HE  SUNDAY  SCHOOL 
CENTURY 


WILLIAM   EWING 


BX  7122  .E9 

Ewing,  William,  1853-1932 

The  Sunday-school  century 


THE  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  CENTURY 


President  and  Vice-President  for  Thirty-one  Years 


THE 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL   CENTURY 

CONTAINING  A  HISTORY  OF 

THE  CONGREGATIONAL  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  AND 
PUBLISHING  SOCIETY 


BY 


REV.  WILLIAM  EWING,  D.D. 


MAR  10  191 P 


THE  PILGRIM  PRESS 

BOSTON  CHICAGO 


Copyright  1918 
By  frank  M.  SHELDON 


THE   PILGRIM   PRESS 
BOSTON 


DEDICATED 
IN  MEMORY  OF  THE  INSPIRING  LIFE  OF 

SAMUEL  B.   CAPEN,   LL.D. 

FOR  SEVENTEEN  YEARS  PRESIDENT,  AND  FOURTEEN 
YEARS  VICE-PRESIDENT,  OF 

THE  CONGREGATIONAL  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  AND 

PUBLISHING  SOCIETY 

AND 

THE  DELIGHTFUL  FELLOWSHIP  AND  COOPERATION  FOR 

THIRTY  YEARS  OF  ITS  SECRETARIES,  FIELD 

WORKERS  AND  EDITORS 


INTRODUCTION 

By  Rev.  Albert  E.  Dunning,  D.D. 

The  organizations  through  which  Congregational  churches 
have  carried  on  their  general  benevolence  have  been  their 
main  bond  of  union.  These  societies  have  been  formed  by 
groups  of  individuals  rather  than  by  direct  action  of  the 
churches,  but  they  have  expressed  in  their  administration 
the  will  of  the  churches  and  therefore  have  been  adopted  by 
them  as  their  agencies  for  advancing  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
Hence  the  history  of  these  societies  is  to  a  large  extent  the 
history  of  the  denomination. 

Dr.  Ewing  has  done  an  important  service  in  searching  out 
and  recording  the  origin  and  growth  of  the  organizations 
which  have  from  time  to  time  been  merged  in  The  Congrega- 
tional Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society,  and  its  progress 
to  the  present  day.  It  has  occupied  a  more  important  posi- 
tion, both  in  promoting  the  usefulness  of  the  local  churches 
and  in  extending  the  influence  of  the  denomination,  than  is 
generally  recognized.  It  has  been  a  potent  influence  of  the 
churches  in  creating  their  literature,  in  guiding  the  education 
of  their  children  and  youth,  in  shaping  their  theology,  and  in 
developing  their  polity. 

This  volume  deserves  to  be  studied  by  those  who  would 
understand  the  genius  of  Congregationalism,  and  by  those 
who  would  preserve  and  develop  it.  They  will  find  in  it 
encouragement  from  the  records  of  faithful  men  and  women 
who  labored  as  pioneers  without  thought  of  being  remem- 
bered by  future  generations,  and  who  often  builded  better 
than  they  knew. 

The  changes  now  in  progress  in  the  administration  of 
Congregational  churches  as  a  denomination,  and  in  their  re- 


viii  Introduction 

lation  to  other  denominations  make  this  record  of  increased 
interest,  by  way  of  comparison,  and  as  an  introduction  to 
the  new  Congregationalism  which  is  evolving  from  the  older 
type. 

Brookline,  Mass. 
August, -1918. 


FOREWORD 

No  organization  connected  with  the  Christian  Church  has 
anything  hke  the  membership  which  is  found  in  our  modern 
Sunday-schools.  When  they  were  first  started,  there  was 
Httle  thought  of  their  welfare  demanding  the  best  effort  of 
each  denomination,  much  less  of  organizations  national  and 
world-wide,  for  their  development.  In  the  last  century  each 
of  the  active,  growing  denominations  has  built  up  its  own 
strong  society  for  planting,  fostering  and  improving  its  Sun- 
day-schools, and  furnishing  them  with  suitable  literature. 
This  activity  has  been  especially  marked  in  the  last  half  of 
the  century  and  it  has  every  promise  of  vastly  greater  de- 
velopment. The  Sunday-school  work  of  the  Congregational 
churches,  as  of  other  denominations,  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  organizations  formed  for  its  promotion.  The 
following  pages  give  the  history  of  various  organizations  be- 
cause they  reflect  the  Sunday-school  work  of  the  Congrega- 
tional churches,  which  has  made  a  vast  contribution  to  the 
world's  welfare. 

The  evolution  of  an  effective  organization  for  good  is  always 
a  fascinating  story.  It  is  all  the  more  interesting  in  propor- 
tion to  the  difficulties  that  beset  it.  The  Congregational 
Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society  had  its  roots  back  in 
what  seemed  very  small  beginnings.  The  changes  and  dif- 
ferent names  assumed  indicate  how  its  progenitors  struggled 
towards  an  ideal.  They  no  sooner  organized  to  meet  their 
present  necessities  than  it  was  found  necessary  to  reorganize 
and  face  still  greater  responsibilities.  From  a  state  organiza- 
tion to  one  that  is  national,  and  from  the  publication  of  a  few 
juvenile  books  for  the  Sunday-school  to  the  putting  forth  of  a 
vast  variety  of  high-class  publications,  and  the  issuing  of  a 
series  of  helps  for  the  Sunday-schools  which  would  have  made 
our  fathers  stare  with  amazement,  suggest  the  evolution  that 
has  taken  place.  This  is  the  history  that  is  set  forth  in  the 
following  pages.     It  discloses  what  a  large  and  wide-reaching 


X  Foreword 

Sunday-school  work  has  been  accomphshed  by  the  Congrega- 
tional churches,  and  the  important  part  that  has  been  borne 
by  their  Sunday-School  Society.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the 
development  of  a  tiny  bud  into  a  full-grown  flower,  which 
takes  days  or  weeks  in  the  course  of  nature,  but  by  the  "movie" 
camera  one  can  see  the  process  in  a  few  moments.  It  required 
a  century  for  the  evolution  of  the  Sunday-School  Society. 
It  is  attempted  here  by  the  "  movie  "  plan  to  show  the  results 
in  a  book  which  can  be  read  in  a  few  hours. 

The  story  undertaken  is  of  the  first  hundred  years  of  Sunday- 
school  work  in  which  Congregationalists,  as  such,  took  re- 
sponsibility. At  the  end  of  that  time  new  emphasis  is  given 
by  the  organization  of  the  Sunday-School  Extension  Society, 
affiliated  with  the  Church  Extension  Boards,  intended  to  give 
a  new  Sunday-school  emphasis  to  all  the  home  missionary 
operations  of  the  denomination.  At  the  same  time  the 
Education  Society,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly  honored 
Congregational  organizations,  takes  the  responsibility  of 
furthering  the  educational  work  which  hitherto  had  been 
associated  with  Sunday-school  extension,  thus  bringing  the 
best  religious  educational  methods  to  the  entire  denomina- 
tion. The  statistical  data  are  included  up  to  1916  which, 
at  the  time  of  writing,  is  as  far  as  tabulated.  Special  items 
of  interest  in  regard  to  the  work  are,  as  far  as  possible,  brought 
up  to  the  date  of  publication.  The  new  and  larger  operations 
upon  which  the  denomination  has  entered  are  left  for  the 
second  hundred  years  of  Congregational  religious  educational 
history. 

The  writer  is  indebted  to  the  librarians  of  Boston  for  their 
courtesy  and  assistance  in  research,  especially  those  of  the 
Congregational  Library  and  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society.  He  would  also  express  his  thanks  to  Dr.  F.  K. 
Sanders  for  valuable  data  which  he  kindly  furnished,  and  to 
Dr.  M.  C.  Hazard,  Dr.  A.  E.  Dunning,  Rev.  Parris  T.  Farwell, 
and  many  others,  for  suggestions  and  co-operation. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Introduction    A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.  vii 

Foreword  ix 

Chapter        I.    Sunday-School  Beginnings  1 

The  Family  and  Selectmen 
The  First  Sunday  Schools 
Educational  Beginnings 
The  Sunday  School  as  a  Pioneer  Agency 

Chapter      II.    Beginnings  of  Organizations  8 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious 

Instruction  of  the  Poor 
The  American  Sunday  School  Union 
The  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Union 

Chapter    III.    Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  17 

The  Congregational  Society  Organized 
Meeting  Denominational  Needs 
The  First  Charter 
Years  of  Development 
Forerunners  of  Children's  Day,  World  Service,  and 

Denominational  Support 
First  Field  Workers,  and  Results  East  and  West 
The  Effect  of  the  Civil  War 
Temperance  Instruction 
Restored  Prosperity 

Chapter      IV.     The  Consolidation  which  Formed  The  Congregational 

Sabbath-School  and  Publishing  Society  30 

The  Congregational  Board  of  Pubhcation 
The  Work  Strengthened  by  Union 
United  Society  Incorporated 
The  Call  to  Become  National 
Fear  of  a  National  Council 
The  Compositeness  of  the  New  Society 

Chapter        V.     Years  of  Experiment  39 

Shortening  the  Name  of  the  Society 
Transfer  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society 
The  Conferences  at  Chautauqua 
Review  of  Transfer  by  Dr.  Capen 
Retransfer  to  the  Sunday-School  Society 


xii  Contents 

PAGE 

Chapter      VI.     Reorganization  and  Advance  46 

General  Secretaries: 
A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D. 
Rev.  Asa  BuUard 
George  M.  Boynton,  D.D. 
Frank  K.  Sanders,  D.D. 
William  Ewing,  D.D. 

Chapter    VII.     Departmental  Divisions  53 

Missionary  and  Extension 
The  Business  Department 

The  Chicago  Agency 
The  Editorial  Department 

Organizing  the  Department 

Dr.  Hazard 

Dr.  Winchester 
The  Congregationalist 
The  Educational  Department 

Chapter  VIII.    Executive  Officers  and  Directors  66 

The  Presidents 
Board  of  Directors 
Treasurers 

Chapter     IX.    Financing  the  Society  70 

Grants  from  the  Business  Department 
Individuals'  Gifts 
Women's  Societies 
Legacies 
Annuity  Gifts 
Permanent  Funds 
Financial  Growth 

Chapter       X.     Children's  Day  74 

Chapter     XI.    Foreign  Work  78 

Abroad 
At  Home 

Chapter   XII.    Slate  Development  82 

New  England 
Massachusetts 
Connecticut 
Rhode  Island 
Maine 

New  Hampshire 
Vermont 
Central  States 
Illinois 
Wisconsin 
Ohio 
Indiana 


Contents  xiii 

PAGE 

Central  States,  continued 

Iowa 

Michigan 

Nebraska 

Kansas 
Northwestern  States 

South  Dakota 

North  Dakota 

Minnesota 
Mountain  States 

Colorado 

Wyoming 

Montana 

Idaho  (Northern) 

Idaho  (Southern) 

Utah 

Arizona  and  New  Mexico 
Pacific  Coast  States 

Washington 

Oregon 

California  (Southern) 

California  (Northern) 
The  Southwest 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

The  "  Panhandle  " 

Louisiana 
The  South 
New  York  District 
Alaska 
Hawaii 
Porto  Rico 
Canada 

Chapter  XIII.    Achievements  and  Outlook  131 

Opportunities 
Adjustments  and  Larger  Things 

Appendix  A.  Statistics. 

Appendix  B.   List  of  workers,  writers  and  others  connected  with 
the  Society. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Samuel  B.  Capen     . 

Frontispiece 

Hon.  William  Reed       .  opposite  page 

Rev.  Asa  BuUard    .      .     [ 13 

Hon.  Charles  Theodore  Russell \^ 

Rev.  Clarence  F.  Swift,  D.D.       .      .'     .' 

*■'•••>..  Xo 

Secretaries      .... 

Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D ^2 

Rev.  Frank  K.  Sanders,  D  D 
Rev.  Frank  M.  Sheldon 
Rev.  George  M.  Boynton,  D.D 
Rev.  William  Ewing,  D.D. 

Early  Superintendents 

Rev.  John  L.  Maile        *6 

Rev.  Jeremiah  E.  Piatt 
Rev.  Harlan  P.  Case 
Rev.  Jeremiah  D.  Stewart 
Rev.  John  R.  Reitzel 

Editors 

M.  C.  Hazkrd,"  Ph.D.' S6 

Rev.  Benjamin  S.  Winchester,  D  D 
Rev.  Howard  A.  Bridgman,  D.D 
Sidney  A.  Weston,  Ph.D. 

First  Educational  Secretaries 

Rev.  James  P.  O'Brien,  D.D °^ 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Gammon,  D.D 
Rev.  Miles  B.  Fisher,  D.D 
Rev.  Milton  S.  Littlefield,  D.D. 

Eastern  Representatives  . 

Rev.  Gabriel  H.  DeBevoise ^^ 

Rev.  Francis  J.  Marsh 
William  A.  Duncan,  Ph.D. 
Captain  Geo.  W.  Lane 
Rev.  Arthur  W.  Bailey 

Central  Superintendents 

Rev.  H.  T.  Sell,  D.D.  ^^ 

Rev.  E.  W.  MiUer 
Rev.  George  C.  Haun 
Rev.  W.  F.  McMillen,  D.D. 
Rev.  O.  L.  Robinson 


xvi  Illustrations 

OPPOSITE  PAGE 

Iowa  Superintendents 95 

Rev.  James  R.  Knodell 
Rev.  Otterbein  O.  Smith 
Rev.  Henry  W.  Tuttle,  D.D. 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Towle 
Rev.  Augustus  C.  Hacke 

Northwestern  Superintendents 100 

Rev.  W.  B.  D.  Gray 
Rev.  C.  M.  Daley 
Rev.  E.  H.  Stickney,  D.D. 
Rev.  R.  P.  Herrick,  D.D. 
Rev.  S.  H.  Buell 

Mountain  State  Superintendents 104 

Rev.  Charles  N.  Fitch 

Rev.  Herbert  E.  Lee 

Rev.  Franklin  J.  Estabrook 

Rev.  Allen  S.  Bush 

Rev.  Gregory  J.  Powell,  D.D. 

Pacific  Coast  Superintendents 113 

Rev.  Samuel  Greene,  D.D. 
Rev.  John  H.  Matthews 
Rev.  Charles  H.  Curtis 
Rev.  Loyal  L.  Wirt,  Ph.D. 
Rev.  Edwin  J.  Singer 
Rev.  Howard  N.  Smith 

Southwestern  Superintendents 118 

Rev.  W.  L.  Sutherland 
Rev.  G.  W.  Chatfield 
Rev.  C.  G.  Murphy,  D.D. 
Rev.  H.  E.  Ingham 
Rev.  J.  B.  Gonzales 

Southwestern  and  Mountain  State  Superintendents 121 

Rev.  Henry  C.  Cronin 
Rev.  Herbert  A.  Deck 
Rev.  Ludwig  Thomsen 
Rev.  John  C.  Huntington 
Rev.  S.  Edward  Lynd,  Ph.D. 

Central  and  Southeastern  Superintendents 124 

Rev.  John  F.  Blackburn 
Rev.  James  M.  Graham 
Rev.  Charles  L.  Fisk 
Rev.  George  B.  Waldron 
Rev.  William  O.  Berckman 

Southern  Superintendents 126 

Rev.  Almon  T.  Clarke,  D.D. 
Rev.  Elmer  W.  Butler 
Rev.  Charles  T.  Rogers 
Rev.  Asher  W.  Curtis,  D.D. 
Rev.  William  Shaw 


THE   SUNDAY-SCHOOL    CENTURY 

Chapter  I 
SUNDAY    SCHOOL    BEGINNINGS 

The  Family  and  Selectmen 

Not  until  about  the  year  1816  did  Sunday-school  activity 
become  general  among  Congregational  churches  of  America. 
From  that  time  may  be  dated  the  Congregational  Sunday- 
school  century.  The  Pilgrim  churches,  however,  had  not 
been  unmindful  of  moral  and  religious  instruction  of  children 
and  also  adults,  in  the  family,  the  church,  and  pubhc  schools. 
This  was  a  regular  part  of  the  work  of  the  "  pastor  and 
teacher,"  and  so  important  was  it  considered  for  the  welfare 
of  the  community  that  it  was  frequently  the  subject  of  legisla- 
tion. In  1642  a  law  was  passed  by  the  Massachusetts  Colony 
requiring  the  selectmen  to  see  "  that  all  masters  of  families  do, 
once  a  week  at  least,  catechise  their  children  and  servants  in 
the  grounds  and  principles  of  rehgion;  and  if  any  be  unable 
to  do  so  much,  that  then,  at  least,  they  procure  such  children 
and  apprentices  to  learn  some  short  orthodox  catechism 
without  book,  that  thej'^  may  be  able  to  answer  unto  the  ques- 
tions that  shall  be  propounded  to  them  out  of  such  catechism, 
by  their  parents  or  masters,  or  any  of  the  selectmen,  when 
they  shall  call  them  to  a  trial  of  what  they  have  learned  in 
that  kind." 

Similar  laws  were  passed  in  Connecticut,  They  were 
frequently  considered  at  town  meetings,  and  were  from  time 
to  time  reenacted  with  specific  directions.  The  record  of  the 
meetings  of  the  selectmen  of  Woburn,  Massachusetts,  states: 
"  The  Selectmen  mette  the  5:  day  of  Octob.  1674;  and  agreed 


2  The  Sunday-School  Century 

on  the  15  :  day  of  this  instant  mo.  to  goe  throo  the  Town  and 
examin  the  family s  about  catechizing." 

Many  of  the  leading  divines  issued  treatises  for  the  religious 
instruction  of  the  young,  and  the  Westminster  Shorter  Cate- 
chism was  introduced  into  New  England  soon  after  its  publica- 
tion in  1647,  and  was  almost  universally  used. 

As  time  went  on,  it  became  difficult  to  maintain  old  methods. 
There  is  a  memorandum  of  May  19,  1808,  supposed  to  be 
taken  from  the  town  records  of  Lexington,  Massachusetts, 
enjoining  "  that  the  Sacred  Scriptures  and  the  Assembly's 
Catechism  be  in  future  introduced  into  all  our  (public) 
schools."  At  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  there 
was  a  breaking  away  from  the  old  customs,  which  had  proved 
good  for  the  early  Colonial  conditions,  and  the  important 
question  was  what  should  take  their  place. 

In  this  period  of  rapid  national  transition  and  expansion  the 
Sunday-school  movement  began.  It  was  exposed  to  many 
dangers:  it  might  be  adopted  by  one  section  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  not  by  another;  it  might  follow  narrow  denomina- 
tional lines,  and  perpetuate  differences  which  already  separated 
religious  people.  But  it  is  one  of  the  tokens  of  divine  guidance 
that  the  Sunday-school  development  received  inspiration  and 
impulse  from  noble  men  and  women  in  nearly  all  denomina- 
tions in  many  lands,  and  has  been  from  the  beginning  a 
unifying  agency  among  all  Christians. 

The  First  Sunday-Schools 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  where  the  first  Sunday-schools  of 
the  new  world  were  formed,  or  even  the  first  of  the  Pilgrim 
faith,  but,  as  nearly  as  can  be  determined,  the  first  Congrega- 
tional school  was  organized  in  1805  in  Bath,  New  Hampshire, 
by  Rev.  David  Sutherland.  Its  modernity  can  be  realized 
by  the  fact  that  his  grandson,  Rev.  W.  L.  Sutherland,  was  until 
1917  a  superintendent  of  The  Congregational  Sunday-School 


The  Family  and  Selectmen  3 

and  Publishing  Society,  and  is  now  pastor  at  Medford,  Minne- 
sota. In  1810  schools  were  organized  in  Beverly  and  Con- 
cord, Massachusetts.  The  first  Sunday-school  in  Boston  was 
established  in  1812  by  Miss  Lydia  Adams,  a  teacher  of  a 
week-day  school.  While  on  a  visit  to  Beverly  she  heard  of 
the  Sunday-school  which  had  been  organized  there,  and 
on  her  return  to  Boston  she  immediately  set  about  organizing 
such  a  school.  The  plan  was  her  own,  but  her  pastor.  Dr. 
Charles  Lowell,  gave  his  sanction  and  hearty  cooperation. 
Charles  Walley,  Esq.,  made  a  donation  to  this  school  of  six 
Bibles,  twelve  Testaments,  twelve  Watts'  Shorter  Cate- 
chisms, twelve  Watts'  Divine  Songs  for  Children,  and  twelve 
Hymn  Books  for  Infant  Minds.  This  gift  constituted  the 
first  Sunday-school  hbrary  in  Boston.  In  1822  this  school 
united  with  the  one  established  that  year  in  the  West  Parish, 
of  which  Dr.  Lowell  was  pastor. 

In  1812  two  Sunday-schools  were  established  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  one  by  the  ladies  of  the  South  Church,  of 
which  Dr.  Hopkins  was  pastor,  and  the  other  in  the  Taber- 
nacle Church.  A  school  which  reflects  the  character  of  the 
work  of  the  period  was  organized  in  1814  in  Newburyport  by 
three  young  ladies.  They  secured  the  use  of  the  building 
formerly  occupied  by  Dr.  Spring's  church,  but  went  forward 
without  direct  aid  from  any  of  the  churches.  The  first  year 
they  enrolled  about  one  hundred.  The  school  prospered, 
and  in  1827  it  reported  eight  hundred  pupils.  Teachers' 
meetings  were  held,  and  at  three  successive  sessions  there 
were  sixty-six,  sixty-five,  and  eighty-four  teachers  present. 
At  one  of  these  meetings  the  teachers  voted  "  that  the  Evan- 
gehcal  and  Famihar  Catechism  for  Sunday  School  in  New  York, 
abridged  from  Rev.  Joseph  Emerson's,  and  the  Assembly's 
Shorter  Catechism  be  taught  in  the  school."  At  another 
session  the  question  was  discussed  whether  the  presence  of 
black  children  might  prevent  the  attendance  of  white,  and  it 
was  voted  "  that,  for  the  present,  no  blacks  be  admitted." 


4  The  Sunday-School  Century 

At  the  next  meeting  the  vote  was  reconsidered,  and  it  was 
decided  "  that  the  blacks  be  admitted." 

From  the  beginning  Sunday-schools  were  organized  and 
sustained  by  earnest  Christian  people,  who  for  the  most  part 
were  connected  with  the  churches.  It  was,  however,  some 
time  before  any  denomination,  or  even  any  group  of  churches, 
assumed  responsibihty  for  directing  or  extending  Sunday- 
school  work.  Many  of  the  schools  were  gathered  in  school- 
houses,  or  halls,  independently  of  any  church,  and  in  some 
cases  were  opposed  by  the  churches.  Those  who  were  most 
actively  engaged  felt  the  need  of  combining  for  improving 
and  extending  the  work,  and  very  soon  the  name  "  Sunday- 
School  Society  "  became  common,  used  either  in  connection 
with  an  individual  school  or  a  group  of  schools  associated  for 
mutual  helpfulness  and  for  establishing  other  schools.  In 
1814  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  preached 
a  sermon  on  "  The  Waste  Places  of  New  England,"  calhng 
for  united  action  and  more  organization  for  the  advancement 
of  religious  instruction.  The  sermon  was  widely  circulated, 
and  did  much  to  stimulate  the  multiplying  of  Sunday-schools. 
To  such  an  extent  did  different  organizations  develop  that 
fourteen  years  later  Dr.  Beecher  stated  that  what  he  had 
pleaded  for  had  been  in  large  measure  accomplished. 

Congregational  churches,  like  those  of  most  other  denomina- 
tions, did  not  for  some  time  consider  it  necessary  to  form  a 
distinct  Society  for  Sunday-school  work.  Dr.  Beecher  and 
many  of  the  Congregational  ministers  of  his  time,  with  pro- 
phetic vision,  commended  and  encouraged  Sunday-school 
organizations.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  Pilgrim  churches  that 
they  were  quick  to  adopt  this  new  method  of  religious  instruc- 
tion, and  to  cooperate  in  a  truly  catholic  spirit  for  its  extension. 

Educational  Beginnings 

The  need  of  constant  improvement  in  Sunday-school 
methods  was  early  recognized.     In  1817  the  Sunday  School 


The  Family  and  Selectmen  5 

Guide,  by  Rev.  John  Angell  James,  published  in  England, 
was  reissued  in  New  York.  The  Boston  Recorder  quotes  from 
it  a  brief  account  of  the  origin,  progress,  and  improvement  of 
the  Sabbath-school  system  of  education.  In  the  same  issue 
there  was  an  editorial  defending  Sunday-schools  from  objec- 
tions urged  against  them,  such  as  that  they  were  a  novelty; 
were  unnecessary;  interfered  with  the  sanctity  of  the 
Sabbath;  and  deprived  children  of  their  only  time  of 
relaxation. 

In  many  sections  of  the  country  educational  ideals  were 
low  and  educational  methods  poor.  The  Sunday-schools 
suffered  in  consequence,  and  at  first  were  often  occupied  in 
teaching  children  or  adults  to  read,  and  in  giving  the  most 
rudimentary  education.  The  real  leaders,  however,  were 
quick  to  see  that  the  Bible  as  a  text-book  furnished  a  treasure 
of  inestimable  value,  and  soon  Bible  study  became  the  su- 
preme object.  Ingenious  and  sometimes  pecuhar  methods  of 
Bible  study  were  adopted.  One  girl  is  reported  to  have  se- 
lected ninety  passages  of  Scripture  to  ''  prove  the  depravity 
of  man,"  and  others  found  from  sixty  to  seventy  passages  to 
prove  that  "  mercy  is  God's  darhng  attribute."  Remarkable 
feats  were  exhibited  in  memorizing  Scripture.  It  is  recorded 
that  in  a  Sunday-school  conducted  by  Mr.  Patterson  in 
Philadelphia,  "  one  little  boy  about  seven  years  of  age  recited 
1360  New  Testament  verses,  which  he  had  learned  during  the 
week,  besides  attending  to  his  other  studies  every  day  at 
school."  Asa  Bullard,  in  his  book,  Fifty  Years  with  the  Sabbath 
Schools,  tells  of  Abigail  Follensbee,  a  girl  ten  years  of  age,  in 
Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  who,  in  less  than  six  months, 
committed  to  memory  the  book  of  Matthew  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Psalm,  together  with  twenty-two 
other  sections  consisting  of  fifty-four  verses,  twenty  hymns, 
forty-four  Scripture  proofs,  and  one  tract,  also  the  principal 
part  of  the  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism.  The  annual  re- 
port of  this  school  for  the  year  1818,  gives  the  number  of 


6  The  Sunday-School  Century 

verses  committed  to  memory  during  the  first  four  months 
of  the  season  as  nearly  one  hundred  thousand. 

The  defects  of  mere  memorizing  were  soon  discovered. 
Sometimes  in  a  class  of  six  or  eight  so  many  chapters  had  been 
committed  to  memory  that  not  more  than  one-half  of  the 
members  had  time  to  recite,  and  there  was  no  time  for  explana- 
tion, or  remarks. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  Maine  Sabbath  School  Union 
in  1827  states:  "  The  practice  of  hearing  long  lessons,  and 
estimating  the  merit  of  the  scholar  by  the  quantity  committed 
to  memory,  has  been  discarded  to  a  considerable  extent; 
and  many  advantages  have  been  found  to  result  from  limited 
recitation,  accompanied  with  full  and  easy  explanations  from 
the  teachers." 

The  effort,  thus  early,  to  use  good  pedagogical  methods  was 
of  great  help  in  Sunday-school  extension.  Striving  for  better 
things  furnished  a  bond  of  union  between  churches  in  the 
same  denomination,  and  did  much  to  bring  different  denomina- 
tions into  active  co-operation.  This  fraternal  bond  was 
indispensable  to  the  progress  of  the  work,  and  has  helped  to 
produce  such  organizations  as  the  American  Sunday-School 
Union  (1824),  The  National  Sunday-School  Association  (1834), 
which  became  the  International  in  1875,  the  World's  Sunday- 
School  Association,  July  1,  1889,  and  the  Sunday-School 
Council  of  Evangelical  Denominations  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada,  October  27,  1910.  From  the  beginning  the 
denominations  worked  in  the  closest  co-operation,  and  gave 
promise  of  that  which  is  now  taking  place,  the  uniting  of  the 
Sunday-school  forces  of  the  world  for  improved  methods  and 
world-wide  service. 

From  the  first  the  evangelistic  opportunity  furnished  the 
greatest  of  all  incentives.  Early  reports  frequently  indicated 
how  many  had  become  "  hopefully  pious."  The  main  object 
has  always  been  to  bring  the  pupils  into  the  Christian  fife 
and  into  the  church,  and  to  develop  Christian  character  and 


The  Family  and  Selectmen  7 

service.     This  has  demanded  the  combination  of  missionary- 
zeal  with  the  best  known  educational  methods. 

The  Sunday-School  as  a  Pioneer  Agency 

The  prominent  part  that  pioneering  was  to  have  in  Sunday- 
school  extension  was  foreshadowed  from  the  beginning.  Rev. 
Samuel  Goddard  in  the  year  1830  wrote  of  his  early  Sunday- 
school  experiences  in  Vermont: 

"  It  is  now  about  twenty  years  since  I  was  first  settled  in  the  ministry 
in  one  of  the  new  towns  in  the  north  part  of  this  state.  They  had  never 
before  had  a  minister,  and  the  youth  and  children  were  growing  up  in 
ignorance,  and  the  Bible  had  been  neglected  by  the  parents. 

"  I  had  never  seen  and  rarely  heard  of  a  Sabbath  school.  I,  however, 
attempted  to  engage  the  children  to  study  the  Scriptures,  and  collected  a 
few  together  in  what  I  called  a  Bible  school.  At  first  I  could  obtain  only 
the  children  of  two  or  three  famiUes.  For  several  years  I  could  not  per- 
suade an  individual  to  assist  in  the  instruction;  but  the  school  increased, 
and  one  after  another  was  induced  to  assist.  In  a  few  years  there  were 
teachers  enough,  and  the  children  of  every  family  but  one  in  town  were 
members  of  the  Sabbath  school,  and  I  have  seen  a  child  of  that  fanaily 
sorry  because  her  father  would  not  permit  her  to  attend. 

"  After  I  left  that  people,  who  were  very  poorly  able  to  support  the 
gospel,  they  were  much  disheartened,  and  ready  to  despair  of  ever  seeing 
another  minister  settled  among  them.  But  these  Sabbath-school . 
children  were  not  satisfied.  Their  anxiety  to  have  the  Sabbath-school 
and  their  soUcitations  with  their  parents  were  the  very  efficient  means  in 
establishing  again  the  preached  gospel  among  them;  and  many  of  these 
scholars  are  now  hopefully  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ." 

In  this  and  similar  ways  began  the  long  and  honored  career 
of  pioneer  Sunday-school  service.  Frequently  it  has  been 
conducted,  as  in  this  case,  by  individual  effort,  but  more  often 
through  organizations  which  have  sent  forth  large  numbers  of 
noble  workers  who  have  gathered  Sunday-schools  in  thousands 
of  destitute  communities  in  all  sections  of  our  land. 


Chapter  II 
BEGINNINGS  OF  ORGANIZATIONS 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious 
Instruction  of  the  Poor 

In  1816,  when  little  was  known  of  Sunday-school  work  in 
this  country,  the  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious 
Instruction  of  the  Poor  was  organized.  The  Society  collected 
information  respecting  Sunday-schools  in  England,  investi- 
gated conditions  in  Boston,  and  discovered  great  need  of 
religious  instruction  among  the  poor.  It  was  found  neces- 
sary to  remove  numerous  objections  that  were  made  to  this 
form  of  Christian  effort;  but  these  were  gradually  overcome, 
and  for  twelve  years  one  of  the  chief  objects  of  the  Society 
was  Sunday-school  instruction.  It  distributed  literature  and 
sent  circulars  to  pastors  and  churches.  New  methods  were 
tried  in  the  schools  under  the  care  of  the  Society,  and  the 
benefit  of  the  experience  was  given  to  others.  These 
results  contributed  in  no  small  degree  toward  shaping  Sunday- 
school  operations  and  extending  them  far  and  wide.  In 
1817  the  Boston  Recorder,  the  predecessor  of  The  Congrega- 
tionalist,  contained  a  notice  signed  by  Mr.  Thomas  Vose, 
Secretary  of  the  Society,  announcing  that  the  Anniversary 
Meeting  would  be  held  in  the  Old  South  Church,  with  a 
sermon  by  Rev.  Dr.  Huntington,  the  children  of  the  Sabbath 
school  of  that  church  were  to  be  present,  and  a  collection  would 
be  taken  for  the  work. 

In  1826  this  society  had  under  its  patronage  fourteen  schools, 
which  enrolled  an  aggregate  of  179  teachers  and  1,604  pupils. 
Each  school,  contrary  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  consisted  of 
both  boys  and  girls.  The  schools  met  at  8  a.m.  in  summer 
and  8.30  in  winter,  and  at  one,  or  half-past,  in  the  afternoon 


Beginnings  of  Organizations  9 

through  the  year,  continuing  their  instruction  at  both  ses- 
sions until  public  worship  commenced.  Each  school  had  one 
superintendent,  with  whom  a  number  of  teachers  were  asso- 
ciated, and  the  schools  were  generally  held  in  the  public 
schoolhouses.  Much  of  the  instruction  would  be  called  secu- 
lar, but  the  sessions  were  opened  with  prayer  and  closed  with 
singing.  Fort  Hill  School,  which  reported  24  teachers  and 
154  pupils,  secured  a  library  of  nearly  150  volumes.  Children 
who  conformed  to  rules  respecting  punctuality,  diligence  and 
good  behavior  were  entitled  to  use  the  library.  The  annual 
report  states: 

"  We  have  endeavored  to  impress  the  children  with  the  beHef  that  this  is 
no  small  privilege,  and  the  effect  has  been  to  produce  very  perceptible 
and  happy  improvement  in  the  order  and  regularity  of  the  school.  One 
Sabbath  in  the  month  is  devoted  to  committing  to  memory  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments, forms  of  prayer,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  school,  and 
to  imparting  such  miscellaneous  instruction  as  carmot  conveniently  be 
given  along  with  the  weekly  Scripture  lessons." 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious  Instruction 
of  the  Poor  was  the  first  organized  effort  of  any  importance 
by  the  Congregational  churches  for  sustaining  and  enlarging 
the  Sunday-school  work.  The  date  of  its  organization, 
October  16,  1816,  fittingly  marks  the  beginning  of  the 
first  Congregational  Sunday-school  century.  The  Society 
did  an  important  work  in  its  day.  In  1829  it  transferred  its 
Sunday-school  work  to  the  Boston  Sabbath  School  Union, 
an  auxiliary  to  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Union, 
which  became  a  part  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School 
Society,  the  immediate  and  most  important  forerunner  of  the 
Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society. 

The  American  Sunday-School  Union 

Organized  cooperation  was  found  necessary  in  starting, 
maintaining  and  improving  Sunday-schools.     This  gave  rise 


10  The  Sunday-School  Century 

to  many  local  organizations  which  were  called  unions,  or 
associations.  The  combination  of  local  unions  frequently 
became  state- wide  in  effort,  and  as  early  as  1820  the  New 
York  Sunday-School  Union  proposed  a  national  society. 
In  1817  the  local  Sunday-school  unions  in  Philadelphia  joined 
in  forming  The  Sunday  and  Adult  School  Union,  which  within 
seven  years  became  the  largest  Sunday-school  organization  in 
America,  uniting  over  seven  hundred  affiliated  schools  and 
auxiliaries.  As  a  result  of  this  and  other  movements,  in  1824 
a  national  organization  was  formed,  The  American  Sunday- 
School  Union,  of  which  the  Philadelphia  Sunday  and  Adult 
School  Union  was  the  principal  factor.  Its  object  as  stated 
was  "  To  concentrate  the  efforts  of  Sabbath  School  associa- 
tions in  different  sections  of  the  country;  to  circulate  moral 
and  religious  publications  in  every  part  of  the  land;  and  to 
endeavor  to  plant  a  Sunday-school  wherever  there  is  a  popula- 
tion." 

In  order  to  unite  the  churches  in  support  of  the  Union,  the 
leading  evangelical  denominations  were  given,  as  far  as 
possible,  a  proportionate  representation  in  its  control.  Many 
Sunday-school  organizations  in  different  parts  of  the  country 
became  auxiliary,  but  the  denominations,  as  such,  did  not 
assume  responsibility  for  the  American  Sunday  School  Union. 
It,  however,  received  the  financial  support  of  a  large  number 
of  churches  and  individuals.  In  the  first  five  years  it  issued 
over  six  milHon  copies  of  Sunday-school  literature,  including 
two  hundred  different  publications  for  libraries;  started  a 
Teachers'  Magazine  and  two  other  periodicals,  and  expended 
annually  over  $75,000.  In  this  period  it  had  in  its  connection 
6,000  schools,  with  60,000  teachers,  and  over  400,000  pupils. 
In  1833  it  reported  that  2,607  teachers  and  5,121  pupils  had 
professed  Christ  in  that  year. 

In  these  early  years  the  Union  found  difficulty  in  securing 
financial  support  and  at  the  end  of  fifty  years  it  was  burdened 
with  a  heavy  debt.     In  1882  a  vigorous  financial  campaign 


Beginnings  of  Organizations  11 

was  begun,  and  in  fifteen  years  the  Society  was  placed  on  a 
strong  financial  basis.  Congregationalists  were  interested  in 
the  organization  of  the  American  Sunday-School  Union  and 
as  individuals  and  churches  contributed  liberally  toward  its 
support. 

Among  those  who  loyally  sustained  this  union  work  was 
the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Society.  When  that 
organization,  in  consequence  of  the  development  of  Congrega- 
tional Sunday-school  work,  was  called  upon  for  a  nation-wide 
service,  difficulties  were  encountered.  The  objection  was 
made  that  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  in  collecting 
funds  and  in  the  general  prosecution  of  the  work,  duplicated 
the  efforts  of  the  Massachusetts  society.  There  was  also 
difficulty  in  regard  to  the  distribution  of  the  publications  of 
each  organization.  Many  were  convinced  that  planting  and 
fostering  Sunday-schools  could  be  promoted  most  effectively 
in  connection  with  organizations  created  by  the  churches. 
The  result  was  that  in  1839  the  auxiliary  relationship  between 
the  Massachusetts  Sabbath  School  Society  and  the  Ameri- 
can Sunday-School  Union  was  dissolved.  Many  Congrega- 
tionalists, however,  as  individuals  and  churches,  continued 
their  loyal  support  to  the  American  Sunday-School  Union. 

The  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union 

Notwithstanding  the  good  work  done  through  the  American 
Sunday-School  Union  and  different  union  efforts,  the  convic- 
tion grew  that  each  denomination  must  come  into  direct 
relationship  with,  and  assume  responsibility  for,  its  own 
Sunday-school  work.  Very  soon  after  the  establishment  of 
the  first  Sunday-schools,  the  different  branches  of  the  Method- 
ist denomination  made  the  Sunday-school  work  a  part  of 
their  regular  church  polity;  but  neither  this  nor  any  other 
denomination  of  the  country  created  a  distinct  society  for 
Sunday-school  work  until  1827,  when  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


12  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Sunday-School  Union  was  formed.  In  the  same  year  a 
society  was  formed  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  churches, 
with  which  a  part  of  the  denomination  co-operated.  In 
1838  the  Pubhshing  Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  was 
established,  and  in  1840  that  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 

The  General  Association  of  Congregational  Churches  in 
Massachusetts  in  1817  recommended  "  the  establishment  of 
schools  for  the  pious  education  of  children  and  youth,"  but 
the  efforts  of  Congregationahsts  at  this  time,  in  planting  and 
fostering  schools,  were  largely  undenominational.  On  account 
of  enormous  distances  and  primitive  means  of  transportation, 
a  national  organization  did  not  seem  feasible.  State  or  dis- 
trict societies  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  with  affiliated 
relationships,  seemed  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  go. 

In  October,  1824,  the  superintendents  and  teachers  of  the 
evangehcal  Sunday-schools  in  Boston  held  a  meeting  to  con- 
sider the  propriety  of  forming  a  state  Sabbath-school  union. 
A  committee  appointed  at  that  time  reported  favorably,  and 
a  meeting  was  called  of  delegates  from  the  Congregational, 
Baptist,  Episcopal,  and  Methodist  Sunday-schools.  This 
convention  was  held  May  25,  1825,  and  organized  the  Massa- 
chusetts Sabbath-School  Union.  The  Methodists  and  Episco- 
pahans,  however,  did  not  cooperate,  and  the  organization 
became  the  recognize^  ichannel  for  the  Sunday-school  work  of 
the  Congregational  and  Baptist  churches.  The  constitution 
provided : 

"That  it  should  be  auxiliary  to  the  American  Sunday  School  Union; 
that  its  object  should  be  to  promote  the  opening  of  new,  and  increase  the 
prosperity  of  the  old  Sabbath  schools,  and  to  form  depositories  for  supply- 
ing schools  with  suitable  books  at  the  lowest  terms,  to  stimulate  and 
encourage  each  other;  that  each  subscriber  of  one  dollar  or  more  annually 
should  be  a  member;  that  any  Sabbath  school  in  the  state,  by  paying 
one  dollar,  and  sending  an  annual  report  to  the  Secretary,  should  be  recog- 
nized as  auxiliary;  that  the  surplus  revenue  of  the  Society,  after  bearing 
the  incidental  expenses,  should  be  transferred  to  the  American  Sunday 
School  Union." 


Hon.  WILLIAM  REED 

First  President 
Rev.  ASA  BULLARD 
Fifty-Four  Years  Secretary 


Hon.  CHARLES  THEODORE   RUSSELL 
First  President  of  United  Society 
Rev.  clarence  F.  SWIFT,  D.D. 
President,  1915 


Beginnings  of  Organizations  13 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious  Instruction 
of  the  Poor  was  an  important  working  factor  in  the  newly- 
formed  Union.  Hon.  WilUam  Reed  of  Marblehead  was 
elected  President. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  the  Old  South  Congre- 
gational Church,  Boston,  in  the  afternoon  of  June  1,  1826, 
and  in  Park  Street  Congregational  Church  in  the  evening. 
Each  cooperating  Sunday-school  was  called  an  auxiliary,  and 
of  the  fifty-five  represented,  forty  were  Congregational. 
At  this  time  many  churches  refused  to  establish  Sunday- 
schools,  thinking  other  methods  were  better;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  interest  was  widespread  and  rapidly  growing.  Among 
the  resolutions  adopted  was  one  presented  by  Dr.  Lyman 
Beecher,  expressing  the  hope  that  "  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
when  the  benign  and  happy  influence  of  the  Sunday-schools 
will  extend  to  every  son  and  daughter  of  the  human  family." 

The  Society  employed  seven  agents,  all  students  of  Andover 
Theological  Seminary,  to  promote  the  establishment  of 
"  Sabbath  schools  in  those  places  where  they  do  not  at  present 
exist,  as  well  as  to  encourage  and  strengthen  those  which  are 
in  a  languishing  state."  The  report  indicated  that  the  col- 
lections for  the  year  were  $106.92,  and  that  the  expenditure 
was  $57.08.  If  the  financial  base  was  small,  it  was  certainly 
safe.  The  reports  do  not  indicate  how  the  agents  were  sus- 
tained financially.  It  may  be  presumed  that  they  were  not 
wholly  dependent  upon  the  Sabbath-School  Union.  These 
agents  visited  133  towns  and  parishes.  Fifty-five  of  the 
schools  were  estimated  to  contain  879  teachers  and  6,883 
pupils. 

The  Union  was  interested  in  educational  improvement  as 
well  as  in  extending  the  work.  It  issued  a  book  of  suggestions 
in  which  the  position  was  taken  that  the  instruction  should  be 
more  definitely  rehgious,  and  that  "  the  Bible  alone  should  be 
used  in  classes  capable  of  reading  and  committing  to  memory, 
each  class  in  the  school  reciting  the  same  lesson,  which  should 


14  The  Sunday-School  Century 

not  exceed  ten  or  fifteen  verses.  The  smallest  classes  may 
recite  hymns  or  the  Catechism,  or  be  taught  to  read  in  the 
Sunday-school  Spelhng  Book."  The  same  pamphlet  con- 
tained a  series  of  "  Select  Scripture  Lessons  for  Sabbath 
Schools,"  covering  the  life  of  Jesus  in  forty-nine  selections 
from  the  four  Gospels,  and  a  table  of  fifty-two  lessons  from 
Genesis  and  the  Gospels,  recommended  by  an  association  of 
teachers  of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

The  second  annual  meeting  showed  that  the  schools  had 
increased  to  220,  containing  23,869  pupils.  Twenty-two 
"  agents  "  were  employed  during  the  year,  one  of  whom,  John 
S.  C.  Abbott,  afterwards  became  famous  as  a  minister  and 
writer.  The  Union  prospered,  and  in  1826  it  established  a 
depository  in  the  Hanover  Street  Congregational  Church, 
Boston,  where  during  the  first  year  2,600  books  were  sold, 
to  the  value  of  $1,800.  The  benevolent  contributions 
amounted  to  $340.25. 

The  third  year  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  schools  num- 
bered more  than  three  hundred  members  each,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  reported  Sunday-school  libraries,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two  "  auxiliaries "  were  added.  Mr. 
Samuel  N.  Tenney  was  employed  as  agent  of  the  depository, 
and  reported  sales  amounting  to  $6,826.42.  The  year  was 
also  marked  by  the  employment  of  Rev.  Artemus  Bullard  as 
general  agent,  to  organize  new  auxiliaries  and  assist  those 
already  gathered. 

In  1829  the  Union  expended  in  missionary  effort  about 
$1,000,  and  its  sales  were  doubled.  The  depository  was 
removed  from  the  Hanover  Street  Church  to  larger  quarters 
in  the  Federal  Street  Baptist  Church.  A  monthly  periodical, 
The  Sabbath  School  Treasury,  was  begun  in  July  of  that  year. 

During  the  fifth  year  the  auxiharies  were  formed  into  more 
than  twenty  subordinate  unions,  which  were  expected  to 
hold  annual  meetings,  to  be  attended  as  far  as  possible  by  the 
general  agent.     Messrs.  Norris  E.  White  and  Joseph  S.  Clark, 


Beginnings  of  Organizations  15 

theological  students  at  Andover,  were  employed  as  special 
agents  during  vacation. 

Rev.  Artemus  Bullard  was  commissioned  in  1830  to  make  a 
tour  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  to  determine  in  what  practical 
ways  Sunday-schools  could  be  estabhshed  within  two  years 
in  every  neighborhood.  On  arriving  in  Ilhnois  he. found  that 
a  Sabbath-school  union  had  been  recently  formed,  and  he 
recommended  that  the  Massachusetts  union  help  this  or- 
ganization. It  was  voted  to  pay  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union  one  thousand  dollars,  to  be  invested  in  books  to 
assist  in  starting  a  depository  in  Illinois,  and  also  one  thousand 
dollars  toward  the  support  of  a  general  agent  for  that  state. 

The  sixth  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Park  Street  Church. 
Before  the  exercises  commenced  the  house  was  packed,  and 
many  were  unable  to  obtain  standing  room.  It  is  stated  that 
there  were  "  several  performances  of  the  juvenile  choir." 
At  this  meeting  it  was  reported  that  Maine,  Connecticut,  and 
Rhode  Island  had  organised  Sabbath-school  unions,  appointed 
agents,  and  estabhshed  depositories. 

The  resources  and  the  work  of  the  Massachusetts  union 
steadily  increased,  and  the  two  denominations  supporting  it 
worked  in  harmony.  The  denominational  character  of  each 
was  recognized,  and  in  the  depository  some  books  were  carried 
that  were  acceptable  to  the  Baptists  but  not  to  the  Congrega- 
tionalists,  and  the  reverse;  hence,  there  was  kept  a  Congrega- 
tional section,  a  Baptist  section,  and  one  acceptable  to  both. 
It  began,  however,  to  be  felt  by  the  secretary  and  others  that 
larger  things  could  be  accomphshed  if  each  denomination 
sustained  a  Sunday-school  Society  of  its  own.  A  committee  of 
the  board  was  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of  amica- 
ble separation.  This  committee  reported  that,  after  mature 
consideration,  it  was  deemed  expedient  that  such  a  division 
should  take  place,  and  that  after  examining  the  resources  from 
which  the  funds  and  property  were  derived,  the  committee 
considered   that   equitable   terms   of   division   would   be:  — 


16  The  Sunday-School  Century 

"  After  paying  all  debts,  to  appropriate  one-third  of  all  the 
property  remaining  on  hand  to  the  Baptist  denomination, 
and  two-thirds  to  the  Congregational."  This  recommenda- 
tion was  approved  by  the  Board,  and  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  1832  the  recommendation  was  unanimously  adopted  and 
carried  into  effect.  The  record  states:  "  It  was  evidently 
in  some  respects  a  matter  of  general  regret  that  the  last  anni- 
versary of  the  Union,  composed  of  denominations  which  had 
progressed  with  the  utmost  harmony  together,  had  now  ar- 
rived; but  the  reasons  for  the  separation,  drawn  from  the 
prospect  of  more  efficiency  and  greater  success  in  promoting 
Sabbath-school  education,  were  so  apparent  to  every  mind  as 
to  induce  a  unanimous  acquiescence  in  the  measure." 

The  wide-reaching  character  of  the  undertaking  entered 
upon  was  reflected  at  this  meeting,  when  the  hope  was  ex- 
pressed that  the  new  organizations  about  to  be  formed  would 
be  "  highly  auspicious  to  the  cause  of  Sabbath  schools  in  this 
Commonwealth  and  throughout  the  world." 

The  union  plan  was  not  abandoned  from  any  narrow-minded- 
ness or  want  of  Christian  spirit,  but  simply  because  it  had 
been  outgrown,  and  the  time  had  come  for  the  denominations 
concerned  to  assume  direct  responsibihty  in  providing  the  best 
means  for  enlarging  and  improving  the  Sunday-school  work  of 
their  respective  churches,  and  for  carrying  it  into  regions  as  yet 
unreached.  In  the  language  of  Dr.  Edwards,  "  It  seemed  that 
the  Union,  though  nominally  divided,  was  really  doubled." 

Rev.  Artemus  Bullard,  who  had  rendered  a  very  important 
service,  accepted  a  call  from  the  American  Board  and  be- 
came its  agent,  with  headquarters  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

A  far-sighted  vision  for  the  nation  and  world  was  apparent 
in  the  organization  which  was  the  beginning  of  The  Congrega- 
tional Sunday-School  and  Pubhshing  Society.  The  other 
branch  formed  an  important  part  of  the  Baptist  Board  of 
Publications,  with  headquarters  in  Philadelphia,  a  society 
which  has  grown  to  even  larger  proportions. 


Chapter  III 
BEGINNINGS  OF  DENOMINATIONAL  EFFORT 
The  Congregational  Society  Organized 

When  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union,  with  the 
best  good-will,  divided,  or,  as  it  was  happily  stated, 
"doubled,"  the  Congregational  delegates  met  in  Park  Street 
Church,  May  30,  1832,  and  elected  for  president  Hon.  William 
Reed,  who  had  served  the  union  organization  in  this  office  dur- 
ing the  seven  years  of  its  history.  The  new  board,  consisting 
of  twelve  managers,  contained  ten  who  had  been  members  of 
the  former  board;  hence  the  Society  was  in  very  large  mea- 
sure a  continuation.  On  account  of  the  continuity  of  this 
service  there  is  some  ground  for  dating  the  organization  of 
The  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society 
at  1825,  instead  of  1832.  But  if  1832  is  questioned,  it  is 
worthy  of  consideration  whether  the  year  1816,  when  the 
Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  ReHgious  Instruction  of  the 
Poor  was  established,  could  not  be  claimed,  since  its  most 
important  work  during  the  first  years  was  in  organizing  and 
fostering  Sunday-schools.  In  these  two  organizations  Con- 
gregationalists  predominated,  but  provision  was  made  for 
individuals  or  churches  of  different  denominations  to  par- 
ticipate; hence,  these  societies  did  not  claim  to  be  strictly 
Congregational. 

It  has  also  been  suggested  that  the  Congregational  Sunday- 
School  Society  might  date  from  1829,  when  the  American 
Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book  Society  was  formed,  which  after- 
wards became  an  important  part  of  the  organization.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  Sunday-school  movement,  however,  the  pub- 
lishing of  Sunday-school  literature  did  not  occupy  the 
prominent  place  given  to  it  in  later  years,  and  the  American 

17 


18  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book  Society  did  not  have  any  direct 
relation  to  Sunday-school  work  during  the  first  years  of  its 
existence.     The  date  of  its  organization  cannot,  therefore 
be  claimed  for  the  Sunday-School  Society.  ' 

The  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  was  formed  by 
representatives  of  Congregational  churches.  The  plans 
adopted  from  the  first  and  embodied  later  in  the  charter, 
in  1841,  made  provision  for  missionary,  extension,  educational' 
and  publishing  interests.  Although  it  took  a  state  name,  its 
plans  were  nation  and  world  wide;  and  therefore  1832  is 
rightly  regarded  as  the  date  of  the  origin  of  the  Congregational 
Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society. 

At  once  the  society  placed  itself  at  the  disposal  of  the 
churches  of  the  denomination  and  those  cooperating  with 
them.  The  "  plan  of  union  "  with  the  Presbvterian  churches 
entered  into  by  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  was 
still  in  operation.  A  broad,  undenominational  character 
was  maintained,  but  in  making  grants  of  literature  pref- 
erence was  given  to  Sunday-schools  connected  with  Congre- 
gational and  Presbyterian  churches,  which  were  placed  upon 
the  same  basis. 

The  Baptist  organization  retained  the  monthly  publica- 
tion, The  Sabhath  School  Treasury,  and  the  Congregational 
Society  issued  a  new  magazine.  The  Sabbath  School  Visiter. 
A  depository  was  established  at  24  Cornhill,  Boston-  Mr 
Christopher  C.  Dean,  who  had  occupied  a  similar  position 
with  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union,  was  appointed 
agent,  and  Rev.  Christopher  Marsh  was  elected  secretary 
general  agent,  and  editor  of  The  Visiter.  ' 

Enthusiasm  marked  the  beginning  of  the  Massachusetts 
Sabbath-School  Society.  Its  first  annual  meeting  was  held 
in  Park  Street  Church,  May  30,  1833.  The  house  was  full, 
and  the  audience  listened  with  great  interest  to  the  addresses' 
It  was  reported  that  the  sales  of  the  depository  for  the  year 
were  about  $7,500  and  that  more  than  $1,000  had  been  given 


Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  19 

for  the  work  in  the  West.  Desire  for  union  effort  was  still 
strong,  and  it  was  resolved:  "  That  this  Society  learns  with 
great  pleasure  that  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  at 
their  late  annual  meeting,  passed  a  resolution  that  they  would, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  endeavor  to  establish,  and  for  five 
years  support,  Sabbath  schools  in  every  neighborhood  where 
the  people  desire  it,  and  in  other  respects  it  is  practicable, 
within  the  bounds  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  the  territory  of  Florida;  and  that  this  Society  will  co- 
operate with  them  in  carrying  the  Resolution  into  effect." 
To  aid  in  this,  cards  were  circulated,  and  although  it  was 
not  intended  as  an  appeal  to  the  citizens  of  Boston,  more  than 
$1,000  was  subscribed  by  clergymen  and  others. 

In  1834,  a  prosperous  year,  $12,328.69  was  received  through 
the  depository  and  for  general  expenses;  and  in  addition 
$2,341.06  was  devoted  to  the  American  Sunday-School  Union 
for  the  work  in  the  South  and  West. 

After  two  years  of  good  service,  Rev.  Christopher  Marsh 
resigned  as  general  secretary,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Asa  Bullard,  general  agent  of  the  Maine  Sabbath-School 
Union,  a  brother  of  the  former  secretary.  Rev.  Artemus  Bul- 
lard. Mr.  Bullard  began  in  1834  his  notable  career  of  fifty- 
four  years  with  the  Society,  forty  years  as  Secretary  and 
Editor,  and  fourteen  years  as  Honorary  Secretary.  His 
life  work  marked  an  era  in  the  growth  of  the  Society  and  in 
Sunday-school  development  in  America. 

The  fourth  annual  report  in  1836  gives  an  intimation  of  the 
scope  of  the  work  upon  which  the  Society  had  entered.  It 
was  noted  that  during  the  four  years,  in  addition  to  support 
given  to  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  about  $2,268 
had  been  contributed  by  the  Sunday-schools  of  Massachusetts 
to  furnish  needy  schools  in  the  West,  the  South,  and  in  Canada, 
with  publications  of  the  Society,  and  to  send  books  to  foreign 
lands.     Field  missionary  work  had  also  been  done  in  Massa- 


20  The  Sunday-School  Century 

chusetts  by  the  Secretary  and  Mr.  C.  C.  Beaman,  a  student  of 
Andover  Seminary. 

In  1837  the  society  mourned  the  loss  of  Hon.  WilHam  Reed. 
He  was  the  zealous,  devoted  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  at  Marblehead,  and  was  remembered  lovingly  by  old 
and  young.  It  was  said  of  him  in  relation  to  the  young 
people:  "  For  their  good  it  seemed  to  be  his  meat  and  drink 
to  labor,  and  with  the  promotion  of  this  object  he  was  liter- 
ally engaged  as  his  very  last  act."  It  meant  much  to  the 
society  that  its  first  president  was  a  man  of  rare  character 
and  devotion.  He  was  succeeded  by  Alfred  D.  Foster,  Esq., 
of  Worcester,  who  served  one  year. 

In  the  fifth  year  thirty-five  new  books  were  issued,  and  the 
circulation  of  The  Visiter  increased  to  nearly  nine  thousand. 
The  Question  Book  on  Romans,  one  of  the  publications  issued, 
circulated  widely,  reached  its  sixth  edition,  and  was  replaced 
by  a  simpler  one. 

The  secretary  made  a  careful  investigation  in  regard  to  the 
truth  of  the  proverb,  "  The  children  of  ministers  and  deacons 
are  worse  than  other  children."  Statistics  were  collected, 
and  it  was  demonstrated  in  the  report  at  the  annual  meeting 
that  the  proverb  "  is  unjust  and  false."  Sunday-school 
conventions  and  Fourth  of  July  Sunday-school  celebrations 
became  common.  Revivals  in  Sunday-schools  occupied  a 
large  share  of  the  Society's  attention,  and  figures  were  given 
which  showed  that  a  large  number  of  pupils  had  "  made  a 
public  profession  or  become  hopefully  pious  "  during  the  year. 

Business  depression  marked  the  year  which  ended  in  1838. 
On  account  of  this  and  because  the  paper  was  placed  upon 
a  "  paid  in  advance  "  basis,  the  circulation  of  The  Visiter 
decreased.  The  Society  issued  only  fifteen  new  book  publica- 
tions, and  the  income  of  the  depository  was  reduced  to  about 
$19,000.  Hon.  Samuel  T.  Armstrong  was  elected  president, 
and  served  the  Society  with  fidehty  until  his  death  in 
1850. 


Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  21 

Meeting  Denominational  Needs 

The  termination  of  the  auxiliary  relations  with  the  American 
Sunday-School  Union  in  1839  helped  to  give  the  society  self- 
consciousness,  place  it  upon  a  solid  basis  and  strengthen  its  na- 
tional outreach.  A  new  educational  emphasis  was  added,  and 
special  attention  was  given  to  classes  for  little  children,  young 
men,  adults,  and  parents;  also  maternal  associations,  teachers' 
meetings,  Sunday-school  concerts,  organizations  for  teach- 
ing benevolences,  and  enlarging  the  scope  of  Sunday-school 
libraries. 

Between  thirty  and  forty  of  the  books  published  were 
histories  of  various  missions  and  benevolent  societies.  They 
set  forth  the  general  appearance,  geography,  soil,  products 
and  climate  of  the  countries,  the  manners,  customs,  habits, 
government,  literature,  and  religion  of  the  people,  and  gave  an 
account  of  the  origin,  progress,  and  prospects  of  the  missions. 

The  society  also  pubhshed  church  histories,  suitable  for 
Sunday-school  use.  The  Sabbath  School  Visiter  was  sent  to 
the  pastors,  thus  making  a  bond  of  connection  between  the 
churches  and  the  Board.  Special  attention  for  the  improve- 
ment of  Sunday-school  music  resulted  in  the  introduction  of 
the  song  book,  The  Sabbath  School  Harp.  Temperance  and 
Sunday-school  evangelism  were  made  prominent.  The  so- 
ciety encouraged  reports  from  individual  schools,  and  these 
were  often  published  in  connection  with  the  annual  minutes. 
Groups  of  schools  united  for  mutual  improvement  and  en- 
larged service,  and  became  district  organizations  auxiliary  to 
the  Massachusetts  society. 

The  reports  indicate  steady  progress,  in  the  course  of  which 
foundations  were  laid  in  nearly  every  department  for  future 
development.  The  benevolent  work  in  aid  of  schools  in  the 
West  and  South,  in  Canada  and  in  foreign  fields,  did  much  to 
cultivate  both  national  and  international  brotherhood. 

In  1840,  business  depression  caused  diflEiculty  in  collecting 


22  The  Sunday-School  Century 

funds,  and  necessitated  delay  in  several  contemplated  publica- 
tions. The  Society,  however,  issued  twelve  small  volumes 
of  the  Infant  Series;  twenty-nine  new  books  in  all.  The  work 
in  Missouri  aroused  special  interest,  and  in  response  to  earnest 
appeals  for  assistance,  aid  was  given  in  the  employment  of 
Mr.  Ashley  Samson  in  that  state.  A  donation  of  $400  worth 
of  the  Society's  pubHcations  was  sent  to  the  depository  in 
St.  Louis. 

The  First  Charter 

In  the  year  1841  the  society  adopted  the  Act  of  Incorpora- 
tion passed  at  the  previous  session  of  the  legislature,  stating 
that  the  organization  was,  "  for  the  purpose  of  estabhshing 
and  aiding  Sunday-schools,  supplying  Sunday-school  hbraries, 
and  otherwise  promoting  Sunday-school  education."  This 
incorporation  made  provision  for  the  missionary,  extension, 
educational,  and  pubhshing  departments,  all  of  which  were 
destined  to  grow  in  importance  and  mutual  helpfulness. 

Years  of  Development 

In  1842  the  tenth  annual  meeting  of  the  society  was  held 
with  much  enthusiasm.  According  to  the  custom  of  the  time, 
resolutions  were  introduced,  with  a  good  deal  of  formality. 
On  motion  of  Rev.  James  Means  of  Concord,  seconded  by 
Rev.  J.  S.  Clark,  secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society,  it  was  "  Resolved:  That  the  child  is  father 
of  the  man."  And  on  motion  of  Rev.  William  A.  Stearns  of 
Cambridgeport,  seconded  by  Rev.  Alexander  W.  McClure 
of  Maiden,  it  was  "  Resolved:  That  the  spiritual  prosperity 
of  the  Sabbath-schools  connected  with  this  Association,  calls 
for  devout  gratitude  to  God,  and  for  new  engagedness  and 
patience  in  carrying  forward  this  important  enterprise." 
These  motions  were  supported  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Wood  and  Rev. 
A.  R.  Baker. 


Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  23 

The  entire  number  of  the  society's  pubhcations  for  the  first 
ten  years  was  475,  of  which  256  w^ere  bound  volumes,  and  25 
were  question  books  and  catechisms.  It  was  then  stated  that 
the  pubhshing  committee  had  taken  measures  to  obtain  each 
year  a  few  standard  books  of  high  order,  and  that  they  meant 
to  spare  no  reasonable  effort  to  improve  the  character  of  all 
the  publications. 

The  supporters  of  the  society  emphasized  the  importance  of 
the  influence  which  it  could  exert  in  helping  to  establish  a 
genuine  democracy.  In  the  year  1843,  on  motion  of  Hon. 
Charles  T.  Russell  of  Boston,  seconded  by  Rev.  D.  Kimball 
of  Ipswich,  it  was  "  Resolved:  That  Sabbath-schools  are 
peculiarly  adapted  to  the  wants  of  a  republic,  and  in  the 
present  moral  aspect  of  our  country,  have  an  established  moral 
claim  to  the  support  of  friends  of  free  government." 

Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  Dr.  Horace  Bushnell,  Prof.  Calvin  E. 
Stowe,  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  (a  brother-in-law  of  Rev. 
Asa  Bullard),  Dr.  Henry  Wilkes  of  Canada,  and  other  eminent 
religious  leaders  were  frequently  among  the  speakers  at  annual 
meetings. 

The  secretary,  who  had  made  a  tour  of  the  West  to  gain 
information  in  regard  to  the  wants  of  schools  in  that  section, 
reported  that  the  destitution  was  very  extensive,  and  that  the 
limited  circulation  of  money  throughout  the  whole  region  was 
such  that  this  destitution  could  not  be  relieved  except  by 
charitable  assistance.  The  report  recommends,  "  that  inas- 
much as  the  needs  existing  within  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  denominations  are  far  more  than  sufficient 
to  absorb  all  the  aid  that  our  churches  and  schools  will  be 
likely  to  furnish  for  this  object,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  confine 
this  aid  at  present  to  these." 

In  1845  the  Massachusetts  General  Association  commended 
the  Sabbath-School  Society  to  the  patronage  and  cooperation 
of  the  ministers  and  churches  of  the  state.  Benevolent 
contributions  increased  to  $4,000,  three-fourths  of  this  sum 


24  The  Sunday-School  Century 

coming  from  Sunday-schools,  juvenile  societies,  and  young 
people.  Most  of  this  was  appropriated  for  libraries  aJnd 
literature  sent  to  the  missionaries  and  churches  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society. 

This  period  marked  the  extension  of  Sunday-school  mis- 
sionary work  by  other  denominations.  The  Sunday-School 
Union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  endeavored  to 
increase  its  Sabbath-school  fund  to  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  per  year.  The  Presbyterian  and  Baptist  societies 
laid  the  foundations  for  their  large  Sunday-school  work. 
The  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  had  confined  its 
benevolent  operations  largely  to  the  West,  but  it  became  ap- 
parent that  schools  in  the  East  also  needed  assistance,  and 
that  the  entire  work  should  be  put  upon  a  broader  basis. 
Sunday-school  interest  was  quickened,  and  about  twenty 
thousand  pupils  over  eighteen  years  of  age  were  reported  in 
the  Congregational  schools  in  Massachusetts. 

Forerunners  of  Children's  Day,  World  Service,  and 
Denominational  Support 

In  1846  plans  were  devised  for  taking  an  offering  in  con- 
nection with  the  Fourth  of  July  celebrations,  and  each  school 
was  asked  to  contribute  a  sum  equal  to  two  cents  per  member, 
the  gifts  to  be  called  an  "  Independence  Offering."  The  first 
year  about  140  schools  contributed  .$800.  The  appeal  was 
made  for  Sunday-school  missions  in  the  West,  and  the  ob- 
servance was  in  many  respects  a  forerunner  of  Children's 
Day.  In  the  annual  meeting  of  1848  the  oft-repeated  ques- 
tion was  discussed:  "  Why  does  the  West  need  so  much 
aid  in  sustaining  the  cause  of  Sabbath-schools?  "  and  "  How 
long  will  they  probably  continue  to  need  it?  "  The  prophetic 
answer  was  given :  "  This  need  arises  principally  from  the 
scarcity  of  books  in  that  section  of  our  country,  and  of  money 
with    which    to   procure   them   elsewhere.     But   both   these 


Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  25 

sources  of  want  in  a  few  years  will,  to  a  great  extent,  be 
removed.  So  soon  as  the  channels  of  communication  be- 
tween the  East  and  the  West,  which  are  now  rapidly  increasing, 
shall  furnish  a  market  for  the  immense  quantities  of  produce 
in  the  Great  Valley,  money  will  become  more  plenty  in  the 
newer  portions  of  the  land,  and  books  too  will  then  be  ac- 
cessible. When  this  shall  be  the  case,  the  churches  now  re- 
ceiving aid  from  the  East  will  begin  to  make  returns,  by 
supplying  the  wants  of  those  in  the  great  West  beyond  them, 
'  towards  the  setting  sun,'  or  by  sending  the  gospel  to  those  of 
the  great  East  beyond  us,  '  toward  the  rising  sun.'  " 

In  1846  the  Vermont  Sabbath-School  Union  had  become  an 
auxiliary,  and  in  1848  the  General  Association  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  the  General  Conference  of  Maine  recommended 
that  their  Sunday-schools  make  an  annual  report  through  the 
Massachusetts  Society.  The  General  Association  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  assigning  particular  months  for  presenting  the 
various  benevolent  objects  to  the  churches,  gave  the  Massa- 
chusetts Sabbath-School  Society  a  place.  This  was  an  im- 
portant step  in  placing  the  support  of  the  Society  upon  the 
churches  by  denominational  action. 

In  1849  the  activities  of  the  Society  extended  to  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ten- 
nessee, Ohio,  Indiana,  Ilhnois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Iowa, 
Missouri,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  California,  the  Choctow 
Nation,  Persia,  Africa,  and  the  Sandwich  Islands.  At  this 
time  the  Society  worked  through  the  pastors,  home  mission- 
aries, churches  already  on  the  ground,  and  teachers  of  the 
"  Ladies'  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Education  at  the  West." 
Notwithstanding  the  excellent  service  rendered  in  this  way, 
requests  came  with  renewed  persistence  that  agents  be  em- 
ployed for  extending  Sunday-school  work  in  the  new  parts  of 
the  country.  There  was  a  strong  sentiment  in  favor  of  com- 
plying, but  funds  did  not  seem  to  warrant  it  at  that  time,  and 
the  pohcy  was  continued  of  aiding  almost  exclusively  through 


26  The  Sunday-School  Century 

correspondence,  occasional  visitations,  and  grants  of  literature. 
Up  to  the  year  1851,  the  whole  number  of  the  Society's 
publications  was  1,033.  of  which  608  were  bound  volumes,  and 
4§  were  text  books.  The  Wellspring  was  established  in  1844, 
and  although  restricted  in  its  circulation  by  exorbitant  postal 
rates,  exerted  a  wide  influence. 

Hon.  Samuel  T.  Armstrong,  who  had  been  the  devoted 
president  since  1838,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  year,  died 
in  1850,  and  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  Samuel  H.  Walley,  of 
Roxbury,  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  work  during  his 
presidency  of  eighteen  years. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1851,  the  venerable  Rev.  Dr. 
Lyman  Beecher,  of  Cincinnati,  spoke  of  his  long  continued 
interest  in  Sunday-schools,  and  of  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the 
West. 

First  Field  Workers,  and  Results  East  and  West 

Requests  continued  to  come  from  both  East  and  West  for 
the  employment  of  field  workers,  that  the  Sunday-schools 
might  be  strengthened  and  the  literature  of  the  society  more 
generally  used.  In  1852  steps  were  taken  by  the  Board  of 
Managers  to  ascertain  the  desires  of  the  churches  in  this 
respect.  A  Sunday-school  in  western  New  York  made  the 
offer  of  an  annual  gift  of  $150,  on  condition  that  workers  be 
employed.  The  Albany  convention,  held  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year,  made  it  clear  that  this  enlargement  should  be 
undertaken. 

In  1853  the  society  commissioned  Rev.  James  Hall,  of 
North  Scituate,  Rhode  Island,  for  Wisconsin,  and  Rev.  D.  B. 
Nichols,  of  Warren,  Iowa,  for  Iowa  and  northern  IlHnois. 
In  1854  Mr.  Hall,  during  eight  months,  traveled  2,954  miles; 
gave  139  addresses;  revived  or  organized  13  Sunday-schools; 
sold  books  to  the  value  of  $59.86;  donated  the  value  of  $209; 
and  obtained  375  subscribers  for  The  Wellspring.     Because  of 


Beginni7igs  of  Denominational  Effort  27 

the  independence  of  the  Congregational  churches,  the  society 
had  not  had  the  loyal  support  which  was  given  to  most  pub- 
lishing houses  by  their  own  denominations,  and  the  employ- 
ment of  workers  seemed  in  a  measure  to  remedy  this,  since  the 
depository,  in  spite  of  prevailing  business  depression,  increased 
its  business  to  $28,976  for  the  year.  The  society  appointed 
two  additional  field  workers.  Rev.  Samuel  Beane  for  Ohio,  and 
Rev.  James  O.  Barney  to  take  the  place  of  Mr.  Nichols,  who 
had  been  transferred  to  special  work  in  Chicago. 

In  1855  Mr.  J.  D.  Foote  began  work  in  western  New  York, 
and  Rev.  Eben  Colman  in  Ilhnois. 

In  1856  the  Society  was  aroused  to  the  seriousness  of  the 
Sunday-school  situation.  Statistics  were  gathered  in  New 
Hampshire,  showing  that  out  of  90,000  children  between  the 
ages  of  four  and  twenty-one,  not  more  than  30,000  were  con- 
nected with  any  Sunday-school,  and  in  Massachusetts  there 
were  150,000  between  the  same  ages  unreached.  The  So- 
ciety suggested  as  a  remedy  that  the  churches  survey  the  fields 
and  estabhsh  branch  schools  under  the  charge  of  members  of 
the  home  church  for  those  who  were  too  far  away  to  attend 
the  sessions  of  its  Sunday-school. 

Similar  conditions  or  even  greater  needs  were  apparent  in 
the  West.  This  survey  led  to  the  enlargement  of  the  field 
force,  and  in  1857  the  following  were  in  the  employ  of  the 
society:  Rev.  WilHam  B.  Hammond,  Iowa;  Rev.  James  Hall, 
Wisconsin;  Rev.  A.  O.  Wightman,  Ilhnois;  Rev.  Wilham 
Hall,  Indiana;  Rev.  G.  W.  Newcomb,  Michigan;  Rev.  P.  A. 
Beane,  Ohio;  and  Mr.  J.  D.  Foote,  in  western  New  York. 
In  1858  Mr.  K.  A.  Burnell  began  work  in  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin. 

The  campaign  which  was  begun  in  1856  for  increasing 
membership  and  starting  branch  schools  gave  encouragement 
and  stimulated  further  activity.  In  1859  the  society  called  a 
convention  of  the  Congregational  churches  of  Massachusetts 
in  the  interests  of  Sunday-school  work,  which  led  to  beneficial 


28  The  Sunday-School  Century 

results  both  within  and  beyond  the  state.  An  increasing 
number  of  churches  were  beginning  to  look  to  their  own  de- 
nomination and  their  own  society  for  cooperation  in  Sunday- 
school  efforts.  Many  others  who  had  not  come  to  realize  the 
necessity  of  denominational  fellowship  and  activity  depended 
upon  union  or  interdenominational  organizations  in  Sunday- 
school  enlargement  and  improvement.  The  steps  taken  by 
the  convention  for  enlarging  the  service  of  the  society  marked 
an  advance  both  East  and  West. 

The  Effect  of  the  Civil  War 

What  the  result  would  have  been  if  the  enlarged  effort  had 
been  unhampered,  it  is  impossible  to  tell.  All  was  changed 
by  the  disturbed  conditions  prior  to  and  resulting  from  the 
Civil  War.  The  services  of  field  Sunday-school  missionaries 
were  almost  wholly  discontinued,  and  attention  was  given 
very  largely  to  furnishing  literature  to  needy  schools  and  to 
the  "  boys  "  at  the  front.  The  society  supplied  324  libraries, 
containing  17,000  volumes,  to  the  American  Seaman's  Friend 
Society.  An  interesting  series  of  six  volumes,  called  The 
Pocket  Companion,  and  other  literature  for  soldiers,  was  pre- 
pared and  widel}'-  circulated. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  valuable  service  was  rendered  in 
connection  with  the  Freedman's  Bureau  and  other  organiza- 
tions in  the  South,  and  through  the  different  missionary 
agencies  that  were  being  adjusted  to  meet  the  new  conditions 
throughout  the  country.  Appeals  came  for  reappointing  field 
workers,  but  the  demand  for  literature  seemed  to  call  for  all 
available  funds.  New  England,  which  had  up  to  this  time 
borne  in  large  measure  the  financial  support  of  the  society, 
had  undertaken  many  responsibilities  in  connection  with  the 
readjustment  of  missionary  activities;  and  requests  for  a 
field  force  were  left  in  abeyance  for  a  time.  The  society 
continued   to   carry   on   the   work    principally   through   the 


Beginnings  of  Denominational  Effort  29 

missionaries  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society,  the 
American  Missionary  Association,  and  in  foreign  fields  through 
the  American  Board. 

The  year  1864  completed  thirty  years  of  service  of  the 
secretary,  Rev.  Asa  Bullard.  During  that  time  he  had 
traveled  more  than  160,000  miles;  made  2,227  visits  to  749 
different  towns,  and  preached  4,268  times.  In  connection 
with  his  visits  to  state  and  county  conferences  of  churches 
and  Sabbath-school  conventions,  he  addressed  not  less  than 
1,200,000  persons.  For  ten  years  he  edited  The  Sahbath 
School  Visiter,  and  for  twenty  years,  The  Wellspring.  Other 
interesting  facts  in  regard  to  his  wide  service  were  given  in 
the  report  of  the  year. 

Temperance  Instruction 

The  report  for  1865  states:  "  The  Massachusetts  Sabbath 
School  Society,  from  its  organization,  has  ever  been  laboring 
to  give  the  young  thorough  instruction  in  regard  to  the  evils 
of  intemperance,  and  the  duty  of  abstinence,  as  taught  by 
the  Bible,  the  laws  of  health,  and  the  results  of  experience." 

Restored  Prosperity  and  First  Business 
Department  Grant 

In  1867  the  business  of  the  society  was  prosperous,  the 
sales  of  the  depository  amounting  to  $134,675.78,  and  the 
Board  made  an  appropriation  of  $5,000,  the  first  grant  made 
by  the  business  department  for  missionary  Sunday-school 
work.  The  reports  continually  emphasized  the  fact  that  the 
society  employed  no  collecting  agents,  and  that  all  contribu- 
tions were  secured  through  The  Wellspring,  the  regular  visits 
of  the  secretary,  and  by  means  of  circulars. 


Chapter  IV 

THE    CONSOLIDATION    WHICH    FORMED   THE 

CONGREGATIONAL  SABBATH-SCHOOL  AND 

PUBLISHING  SOCIETY 

The  Congregational  Board  of  Publications 

An  event  of  great  importance  took  place  in  1868,  when  the 
Congregational  Board  of  Publication  united  with  the  Massa- 
chusetts Sabbath-School  Society,  forming  the  Congregational 
Sabbath-School  and  Publishing  Society.  It  is  of  interest  to 
trace  the  development  of  the  publishing  branch  of  the  society. 

On  June  24,  1829,  a  number  of  leading  Congregational 
ministers,  with  strong  religious  doctrinal  convictions,  held 
a  meeting  at  Taunton,  Massachusetts,  and  estabhshed 
The  Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book  Society.  They  associated 
with  themselves  laymen  and  ministers  representing  the 
theology  called  Edwardsian,  Hopkinsian,  or  The  New  Eng- 
land Theology. 

The  object  of  the  Society,  as  stated,  was  "  To  procure  and 
circulate  such  tracts  and  books  as  are  adapted  to  explain, 
prove,  and  vindicate  the  peculiar  and  essential  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel,  and  to  discriminate  between  genuine  and  spurious 
religious  affections  and  experience."  They  chose  Hon.  David 
L.  Morrill,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  for  president  and  Rev.  Jonas  Per- 
kins as  secretary.  Seven  tracts  were  published  during  the 
first  year,  each  numbering  3,000  copies,  and  the  expenditures 
were  $431.11.  The  publications  were  sold  when  possible, 
but  as  the  society  was  considered  a  strictly  charitable  organiza- 
tion, sales  were  meager  and  funds  were  solicited  to  enable  the 
society  to  publish  and  distribute  gratuitously. 

There  was  apparently  no  thought  at  this  time  of  the  Doc- 
trinal Tract  and  Book  Society  becoming  denominational  or 

30 


The  Consolidation  31 

national.  There  was  a  similar  society  in  New  Jersey,  and 
two  in  New  York  state. 

During  the  first  few  years  the  work  of  the  organization 
was  practically  restricted  to  issuing  and  circulating  tracts  in 
New  England.  In  1831  the  election  of  Rev.  Leonard  Woods, 
D.D.,  of  Andover,  for  president,  marked  an  enlargement  of 
the  Society.  The  number  of  tracts  increased,  including 
"  The  PersonaHty  and  Offices  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ";  "  Sinners 
Wilful  and  Perverse";  "The  Plea  of  the  Sinner  Against 
Eternal  Punishment." 

In  1832  the  name  was  changed  to  The  American  Doctrinal 
Tract  Society.  The  annual  fee,  which  had  been  fifty  cents, 
was  raised  to  two  dollars,  and  the  fife  membership  fee  was 
raised  from  five  to  twenty  dollars. 

In  1834  bound  volumes  of  tracts  were  issued,  and  one  hun- 
dred volumes  of  these  were  presented  to  the  American  Board 
to  be  distributed  among  its  missionaries;  and  tracts  to  the 
value  of  two  hundred  dollars  were  voted  to  the  Massachusetts 
Missionary  Society. 

From  1836  to  1847,  forty-five  different  tracts  were  pubhshed 
and  circulated,  and  also  issued  in  bound  volumes.  In  1847 
steps  were  taken  for  an  enlargement  of  the  operations  of  the 
Society  by  issuing  a  series  of  standard  works  on  theology. 
Rev.  Sewall  Harding  was  elected  agent,  and  raised  about  $20,- 
000  for  a  permanent  fund,  the  object  being,  "  To  stereotype, 
pubhsh,  distribute,  and  perpetuate  a  class  of  books  generally 
needed  to  give  vigor  and  stability  to  the  churches."  The 
society  desired  to  place  these  works  within  reach  of  ministers 
with  small  salaries,  and  the  general  reading  community.  The 
society  was  hard  to  satisfy  with  a  name,  and  in  1850  changed 
back  to  its  original  title.  The  Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book 
Society. 

The  report  for  1851  mentions  the  pubhcation  of  "The 
Memoir  of  Dr.  Nettleton,"  the  works  of  Bellamy  and  Jona- 
than Edwards,  and  those  of  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins  in  process  of 


32  The  Sunday-School  Century 

publication.  In  the  following  year  it  was  resolved  to  publish 
the  works  of  "  the  most  distinguished  Congregational  theolo- 
gians, beginning  with  John  Robinson." 

The  same  year  the  society  planned  for  larger  service,  and 
the  report  makes  mention  of  a  "  design  to  make  this  Society 
for  the  Congregational  churches  of  our  land,  what  the  Presby- 
terian Board  of  Publication  is  for  the  Presbyterian  churches," 
and  the  name  The  Congregational  Board  of  Pubhcation 
was  suggested. 

In  1853  the  number  of  volumes  issued  had  increased  to 
twenty-six,  including  the  works  of  Thomas  Shepard  and 
Leonard  Woods.  This  year,  among  other  grants,  the  society 
presented  a  small  library  to  every  Congregational  church  in 
Michigan. 

Rev.  Leonard  Woods,  who  had  served  as  president  for 
twenty-three  years,  died  in  1854,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Jacob  Ide,  D.D.  In  the  same  year,  by  act  of  the  legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  the  name  was  changed  to  The  Congrega- 
tional Board  of  Pubhcation.  Two  colporteurs  were  employed 
for  the  circulation  of  literature.  Among  the  pubHcations  of 
1856  was  an  edition  of  "  Lectures  to  Young  Men,"  by  Joel 
Hawes,  which  was  widely  circulated  and  of  great  value. 

In  1857,  in  addition  to  the  secretary,  a  depository  agent 
was  appointed;  seven  new  books  were  published,  and  also  a 
revision  of  the  works  of  Dr.  Emmons.  The  society  offered 
a  prize  for  an  essay  on  slavery,  and  selected  one  entitled, 
"  The  Error  and  the  Duty  in  Regard  to  Slavery."  The  re- 
port states  that  it  was  "  at  once  philosophical  and  Scriptural, 
finely  harmonizing  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  ethics  and 
the  Bible,  theory  and  practice,  philanthropy  and  common 
sense."  In  1858  the  society  published  "  The  Church  Polity 
of  the  Pilgrims,"  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Wellman,  D.D.,  Sketches  of 
the  History  of  the  Congregational  Churches  in  Massachusetts 
from  1620  to  1858,  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Clark,  D.D.,  Porter's  "  Re- 
vivals of  Religion,"  and  thirty-one  new  tracts. 


The  Consolidation  33 

The  work  of  the  society  was  brought  into  prominence  in 
1859  by  the  pubhcation  of  a  large  volume  on  the  Atone- 
ment, by  several  New  England  writers,  with  an  introductory 
essay  on  The  Edwardsian  Theology,  by  Prof.  Edwards  A. 
Park,  of  Andover.  This  book  called  forth  a  strongly  polemic 
.pamphlet,  directed  against  the  general  management  of  the 
society,  as  well  as  against  the  book,  by  Rev.  Parsons  Cooke, 
D.D.,  one  of  its  vice-presidents.  The  discussion  occupied 
a  large  place  in  the  religious  thinking  and  writing  of  theolo- 
gians of  the  time.  Soon,  however,  the  practical  and  burning 
questions  thrust  upon  the  nation,  which  resulted  in  the  Civil 
War,  greatly  modified  the  doctrinal  preaching  and  writing  of 
the  denomination,  to  the  exclusion,  in  a  marked  degree,  of 
speculative  theology. 

The  society,  like  all  the  other  benevolent  organizations  of 
the  denomination,  started  in  a  small  way  and  very  largely 
from  individual  effort;  and  onty  as  it  vindicated  its  usefulness 
did  it  win  a  recognized  place  in  the  Congregational  fellowship. 
Its  first  depository  was  estabhshed  at  114  and  was  transferred 
in  1853  to  156  Washington  Street,  Boston.  These  quarters 
proved  too  small,  and  it  was  moved  to  Tremont  Temple, 
where  it  remained  until  1858.  In  that  year  the  business  was 
transferred  to  2  Chauncy  Street,  in  the  Congregational 
Library  Building,  "  where  the  different  Congregational  chari- 
table organizations  were  accommodated,  and  where  the 
brethren  of  the  Congregational  family,  visiting  Boston,  found 
a  kind  of  home  and  place  of  social  resort." 

During  the  time  under  review  there  had  been  great  de- 
velopment in  Sunday-school  work.  The  meager  pub- 
lications of  the  earlier  days  did  not  meet  the  demands 
for  Sunday-school  literature.  Congregational  publishing 
interests,  divided  between  the  Congregational  Board  of 
Publication  and  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society, 
made  impossible  a  strong  publishing  house.  Indepen- 
dent   publishers,    both   within  and  without  the  denomina- 


34  The  Sunday-School  Century 

tion,  found  a  large  constituency  in  the  Congregational 
churches. 

This  situation  led  thoughtful  men  to  advocate  uniting  the 
publishing  and  Sabbath-school  interests.  The  largest  and  most 
stable  demands  for  religious  publications  were  for  Sunday- 
schools.  In  most  other  denominations  the  planting  and 
educational  improvement  of  Sunday-schools  and  the  pubhsh- 
ing  of  literature  had  either  grown  up  together,  or  if  separately, 
had  been  united.  As  the  first  step  toward  union,  in  1862  the 
depository  of  the  Congregational  Board  of  Pubhcation  was 
removed  to  13  Cornhill,  where  the  Sabbath-school  depository 
had  been  located  since  1835.  The  two  societies,  however, 
still  operated  under  different  boards.  The  receipts  of  the 
Congregational  Board  of  Publication  greatly  diminished  and 
in  1863  were  but  $416.23.  Efforts  were  put  forth  for  enlarging 
the  constituency  by  increasing  the  membership  of  the  board 
of  directors  and  by  the  election  of  corporate  members.  In 
1867  Rev.  Rufus  Anderson,  D.D.,  became  president,  and 
the  sales  for  that  year  amounted  to  $2,400.  Notwithstand- 
ing this  renewed  effort,  the  operations  of  the  Congre- 
gational Board  of  Pubhcation  again  diminished  and  no 
printed  reports  can  be  found  of  the  last  seven  years  of  its 
existence. 

The  Board  of  Pubhcation,  under  different  names,  had  done 
an  important  work  during  most  of  the  thirty-nine  years  of 
its  operations.  The  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society, 
adhering  to  its  original  name,  had  united  the  organized  Con- 
gregational Sunday-school  activities  of  the  different  states, 
and  by  natural  development  had  become  helpful  to  the  entire 
denomination.  When  the  two  societies  were  organized,  there 
was  little  that  was  common  in  aim  or  method.  But  the  growth 
of  the  Sunday-school  movement,  with  its  demands  for  a  large 
literary  output,  made  clear  the  wisdom  of  union. 

It  was,  therefore,  a  matter  of  great  significance  when  the 
two  societies  united  in  1868,  with  the  hearty  approval  of  all 


The  Consolidation  35 

concerned,  and  there  was  formed  The  Congregational  Sabbath- 
School  and  Pubhshing  Society. 

The  Work  Strengthened  by  Union 

The  organization  formed  by  the  union  encountered  very 
strong  competition  from  independent  pubhshing  houses,  in  a 
constituency  trained  to  individual  rather  than  cooperative 
action.  Many  Congregational  churches  and  laymen  were 
still  supporting  other  Sunday-school  organizations  rather 
than  their  own.  More  than  one-half  of  the  Congregational 
churches  west  of  the  Mississippi  did  not  have  Sunday-schools 
under  their  control,  but  sustained  union  schools,  and  hence 
there  was  lacking  a  loyal  constituency.  Notwithstanding 
these  difficulties,  the  society  made  progress  and  improved 
the  quahty  of  its  hterature,  and  soon  gave  promise  of  that 
which  has  since  been  reahzed  —  publications  unsurpassed 
in  the  Sunday-school  world 

United  Society  Incorporated 

An  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  new  society  was  authorized 
by  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  entitled  "An  Act  to 
Unite  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  and  the 
Congregational  Board  of  Pubhcation."  The  new  organiza- 
tion was  entitled,  The  Congregational  Sabbath-School  and 
Publishing  Society,  and  was  given  all  the  rights,  powers,  and 
privileges  which  either  of  the  corporations  had,  and  was 
entrusted  with  the  responsibihties  of  each. 

Hon.  Samuel  H.  Walley,  who  had  been  president  of  the 
Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  for  eighteen  years, 
desired  to  be  released,  and  the  society  placed  on  record  an 
expression  of  its  regard  and  gratitude.  Hon.  Charles  Theo- 
dore Russell,  of  Cambridge,  was  elected  the  first  president  of 
the  united  society.  The  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Tremont 
Temple,  with  a  large  and  enthusiastic  audience.  Rev. 
Edwards  A.  Park,  D.D.,  of  Andover,  opened  the  meeting 


36  The  Sunday-School  Century 

with  prayer.  Interest  was  given  by  the  participation  of  the 
juvenile  choir  of  Chambers  Street  Chapel,  under  the  direction 
of  H.  W.  Alexander,  organist,  and  Loring  Lothrop,  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school. 

The  report  states  that  "  the  Sabbath  School  Society,  hav- 
ing flourished  in  its  independent  operations  during  thirty-six 
years,  and  having  a  history  honorable  and  dear  to  its  members, 
did  not  feel  prepared  to  relinquish  its  name  and  identity, 
or  to  lose  the  continuity  of  its  existence  in  a  wholly  new  or- 
ganization. It  therefore  proposed  to  receive  as  members  the 
present  membership  of  the  Board  of  Pubhcation,  and  to  take 
the  name  of  The  Congregational  Sabbath-School  and  Pub- 
lishing Society." 

Six  members  were  added  to  the  board  of  managers,  making 
nineteen,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  two  secretaries, 
one  for  the  Sunday-school  department,  and  the  other  for 
general  publications. 

At  the  time  of  merging,  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School 
Society  was  prosperous;  the  business  was  steadily  increasing, 
and  amounted  for  the  year  to  $137,011,  an  advance  of  $2,335 
over  the  preceding  year. 

The  Call  to  Become  National 

The  new  name  of  the  united  society  relieved  it  from  provin- 
ciaHsm,  and  gave  it  a  denominational  and  national  outlook. 
The  denomination  had  been  hindered  by  hesitation  in  planting 
Congregational  churches  in  any  great  numbers  west  of  the 
Hudson  River.  Sunday-school  contributions  of  Massachu- 
setts had  to  a  large  extent  gone  to  the  building  up  of  Presby- 
terian churches.  The  report  of  1869  pointed  out  that  our 
churches  formed  a  partnership  with  the  Presbyterians  for 
home  missionary  work,  which  instead  of  securing  the  exten- 
sion of  Congregational  churches,  had  caused  some  two  thou- 
sand formed  by  Congregationahsts  to  be  transferred  into  the 


The  Consolidation  37 

Presbyterian  denomination.  In  a  similar  way  Congregational 
patronage  had  been  freely  given  to  other  publishing  houses 
while  their  own  denominational  press  had  not  been  loyally 
supported.  A  clear  call  was  given  for  the  society  to  become 
truly  national. 

The  report  states:  "Congregationalism  can  be  made  a 
success  only  by  nationalizing  it.  Its  genius  as  a  church 
government,  its  difficulties,  and  wants,  and  duties,  and  modes 
of  propagation  and  extension,  must  be  regarded  as  a  unit 
extended  across  the  country.  To  meet  the  religious  exigencies 
of  the  times,  and  fill  our  mission  as  the  apostolic  order  of 
churches,  we  must  so  reconstruct  our  machinery  of  benevolence 
and  adjust  our  forces,  as  to  act  as  a  unit.  We  must  so  na- 
tionalize ourselves  as  to  feel  at  home  wherever  we  may  hold 
our  anniversaries." 

Fear  of  a  National  Council 

The  report  of  1869  continues:  "  We  need  an  annual  national 
gathering.  We  fear,  and  with  reason,  a  stated  National 
Council.  But  we  could  make  up  an  Anniversary  Week  of  our 
own  five  or  six  national  societies,  which  would  serve  all  the 
ends  of  these  other  Assembhes  and  Conventions.  Indeed,  it 
would  serve  much  better,  since  we  do  all  our  legislating  and 
trying  of  cases  at  home,  and  could  give  our  effort  to  the  higher 
Christian  work  of  planning  for  home  and  foreign  evangeliza- 
tion, and  stimulating  the  churches  up  to  a  higher  plane  of 
consecration  and  labor. 

"  We  could  thus  constitute  one  great  annual  week  of  Con- 
gregationalism. It  would  bring  face  to  face,  once  a  year,  the 
leading  piety  and  talent  and  wealth  and  zeal  of  our  order." 

The  Compositeness  of  the  New  Society 

The  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society 
was  the  result  of  a  large  number  of  movements  which  found 


38  The  Sunday-School  Century 

expression  in  different  organizations.  The  first  of  these,  in 
point  of  time,  was  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Christian 
Knowledge,  organized  in  1805.  It  rendered  a  useful  service 
in  publishing  and  circulating  literature.  In  the  year  1870 
it  disbanded,  donating  $5,000  of  accumulated  funds  to  the 
Sunday-School  Society,  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  circu- 
lation of  books.  This  fund  has  been  kept  sacred,  and  its 
income  used  in  the  way  specified. 

The  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious  Instruction 
of  the  Poor,  estabhshed  in  1816,  embraced  several  depart- 
ments of  service,  and  finally  became  the  Boston  City  Mission- 
ary Society,  which  has  had  an  honored  history  and  still  renders 
a  great  and  noble  service  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  D.  W. 
Waldron,  who  has  been  its  secretary  for  forty-six  years.  In 
its  early  history,  an  important  part  of  its  work  was  organizing 
and  stimulating  Sunday-schools,  until  this  department,  by 
different  steps,  became  a  part  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath- 
School  Society,  which  was  the  principal  factor  in  The 
Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society.  A 
very  important  tributary  was  the  Congregational  Board  of 
Publication,  an  evolution  from  the  Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book 
Society.  To  this  the  Evangelical  Society  of  Publication,  in 
1850,  transferred  its  good  will  and  the  few  hundred  dollars  in 
its  treasury.  Other  publishing  interests  of  a  similar  character, 
estabhshed  in  several  states,  disbanded  at  different  periods, 
and  the  Congregational  constituency  connected  with  them 
looked  to  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publication  for  a 
continuation  of  the  service  which  they  had  rendered. 

The  union  of  the  Sunday-school  and  the  Publishing  Socie- 
ties was  by  a  natural  process  of  evolution.  The  principal 
work  of  at  least  half  a  dozen  different  societies  were  thus 
advantageously  united. 


Chapter  V 
YEARS   OF   EXPERIMENT 

For  six  years  before  the  formal  union,  the  Massachusetts 
Sabbath-School  Society  and  the  Congregational  Board  of 
Pubhcation  had  occupied  the  same  depository  and  employed 
the  same  business  manager.  After  the  union,  an  effort  was 
made  for  a  time  to  keep  the  departments  separate,  and  two 
secretaries  were  employed.  Rev.  Asa  Bullard  devoted  his 
time  largely  to  planting,  encouraging  and  improving  schools, 
also  editing  The  Wellspring  and  other  Sunday-school  publica- 
tions. Rev.  William  Barrows  devoted  his  efforts  to  the 
publication  and  circulation  of  general  and  theological  litera- 
ture. 

After  four  years  Dr.  Barrows  resigned  to  accept  the  secre- 
taryship of  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 
Rev.  Asa  Bullard  continued  as  the  general  secretary.  Larger 
responsibility  was  placed  upon  the  business  manager  and  com- 
mittees in  the  publication  of  literature. 

Many  difficulties  had  to  be  overcome,  as  the  denomination 
had  not  yet  reached  a  full  consciousness  of  the  necessity  of 
sustaining  its  own  organizations.  At  this  time  the  leading 
denominations  were  assuming  responsibility  for  their  own 
Sunday-school  work,  and  strengthening  their  pubUshing 
houses. 

The  society  was  receiving  about  $12,000  per  year  for  grants 
of  literature  to  needy  schools  and  for  strengthening  the 
Sunday-school  work  by  correspondence  and  visitation.  The 
events  which  followed  indicate  that  this  would  have  been 
an  opportune  time  for  the  Society  to  have  entered  fully  into 
its  field  work. 

At  this  critical  period  Rev.  Asa  Bullard,  who  had  served 

39 


40  The  Sunday-School  Century 

the  Society  with  signal  devotion  for  forty  years,  was  made 
honorary  secretary,  in  1874,  and  Rev.  John  O.  Means,  D.D., 
of  Roxbury,  was  called  to  the  secretaryship.  Dr.  Means 
was  given  httle  opportunity  for  executive  work,  but  by  his 
excellent  literary  ability,  did  much  to  improve  the  quality  of 
the  Sunday-school  output. 

Shortening  the  Name  of  the  Society 

In  response  to  a  request  for  shortening  the  name,  it  was 
changed  in  1870  to  the  Congregational  Publishing  Society. 
The  Board  of  Directors  expressed  regret  at  parting  with  the 
familiar  designation,  but  gave  assurance  that  the  Sunday- 
school  work  would  be  continued  in  full  force,  and  that  the 
name  was  changed  simply  in  the  interest  of  brevity. 

Transfer  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society 

In  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  National 
Council  of  1874,  the  missionary  work  of  the  Sunday-School 
Society  was  transferred  to  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  not,  however,  without  serious  protest  on  the  part  of 
many  who  were  connected  with  both  societies.  When  the 
transfer  was  made,  the  income  diminished,  and  the  special 
Sunday-school  work  practically  ceased. 

In  1880  Dr.  Means  resigned  to  accept  a  secretaryship  of  the 
American  Board,  and  Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  D.D.,  was  elected 
secretary  for  the  board  of  directors. 

The  transfer  of  the  missionary  work  of  the  Society  had  been 
made  but  a  short  time  before  agitation  was  begun  for  its 
restoration. 

The  Conferences  at  Chautauqua 

A  significant  movement  was  started  at  the  Lake  Chautauqua 
Assembly,  in  New  York,  which  was  a  center  of  Sunday-school 
activity.     At  a  meeting  held  August  7,  1878,  of  which  Rev. 


Years  of  Experiment  41 

Frank  Russell,  D.D.,  was  chairman,  and  Rev.  C.  C.  Creegan, 
D.D,,  clerk,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"Resolved:  That  as  informal  representatives  of  Congregational 
Churches  in  several  states,  we  hereby  express  our  sense  of  the  imperative 
necessity  of  associated  action  in  our  general  Sunday-school  work. 

"  We  therefore  recommend  that  local  and  State  Associations  of  our 
churches  organize  institutes  and  conventions  for  securing  more  efficient 
cooperation.  We  also  recommend  the  calUng  at  an  early  date  of  a  de- 
nominational Sunday  School  Convention  to  secure  more  perfect  system 
and  greater  efficiency  in  our  Congregational  Sunday  schools." 

The  following  were  appointed  as  a  committee  to  devise 
appropriate  methods  for  carrying  out  the  resolution:  Rev. 
Frank  Russell,  Mansfield,  Ohio;  Rev.  G.  W.  Bainum,  Bunker 
Hill,  lUinois;  Rev.  J.  D.  Stewart,  Little  Valley,  New  York; 
Rev.  John  L.  Maile,  Portland,  Michigan,  and  W.  A.  Duncan, 
Syracuse,  New  York. 

At  a  larger  meeting,  among  other  actions  taken,  it  was 
"  Resolved:  That  the  committee  urge  the  appointment  of  a 
National  Secretary." 

A  resolution  on  the  same  subject  was  presented  by  President 
J.  H.  Fairchild,  of  Oberhn,  at  the  Lake  Side,  Ohio,  Sunday 
School  Assembly,  and  unanimously  adopted  by  sixty  repre- 
sentative Congregational  Sunday-school  workers  present 
from  three  states. 

A  second  Chautauqua  gathering  of  Congregationalists  was 
held  August  13,  1879.  On  motion  of  Dr.  Lyman  Abbott,  of 
New  York,  Mr.  Joseph  Cook,  of  Boston,  was  elected  chair- 
man, and  Mr.  C.  M.  Nichols,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  secretary. 
It  was  stated  by  Mr.  Cook  that  the  chief  object  of  the  meeting 
was  to  take  steps  to  secure  the  appointment  of  a  general 
secretary  for  Sunday-school  work. 

The  following  recommendations  were  adopted: 

"  Whereas,  This  movement  has  received  the  hearty  support  of  the 
Ohio  State  Conference,  the  Michigan  State  Association,  and  other  state 
bodies  and  many  local  Conferences  and  Associations,  also  of  our  church 


42  The  Sunday-School  Century 

papers,  The  Congregationalist  and  The  Advance,  also  of  many  leading 
clergymen  and  prominent  Sunday-school  workers  all  over  the  land, 

"  Therefore,  Resolved,  That  we  reaffirm  the  resolution  passed  by 
the  CongregationaUsts  at  Chautauqua  last  year,  1878,  also  the  one  pre- 
sented by  President  Fair  child  at  the  Lakeside  Assembly,  July  29, 1879." 

It  was  resolved  to  hold  a  Sunday-School  Conference  at 
Chautauqua  the  following  year.  Rev.  O.  F.  Presbrey,  Rev. 
J.  L.  Maile,  Mr.  W.  A.  Duncan,  Mr.  C.  W.  Nichols,  and  Rev. 
J.  D.  Stewart  were  appointed  a  committee  to  arrange  a  pro- 
gram for  the  meeting.  The  proposed  conference  met  with 
hearty  response.  Rev.  R.  S.  Storrs,  D.D.,  of  Brooklyn, 
wrote:  "  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  meet  and  address  the  proposed 
Congregational  Sunday-School  Congress,  1880."  Mr.  Joseph 
Cook  promised  to  render  all  possible  cooperation.  Rev. 
C.  L.  Goodell,  D.D.,  of  St,  Louis,  responded:  "  I  am  greatly 
pleased  with  the  idea  of  a  forward  march  in  Sunday-school 
work  in  our  denomination.  I  am  thankful  for  the  proposed 
Congress  next  summer,  and  for  the  hope  of  a  General  Secre- 
tary.    I  go  for  them  heartily." 

The  congress  was  held  in  Chautauqua,  and  was  in  every 
respect  a  gratifying  success.  Among  the  speakers  were  Mr. 
Joseph  Cook,  of  Boston;  Rev.  WilKam  Potter,  D.D.,  of 
Washington,  D.  C;  Rev.  A.  F.  Beard,  D.D.,  of  Syracuse; 
Rev.  C.  L.  Goodell,  D.D.,  of  St.  Louis;  and  Rev.  R.  C. 
Hutchins,  D.D.,  of  Columbus.  A  great  impetus  was  given 
to  the  work,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Rev.  A.  E. 
Dunning,  D.D.,  as  Sunday-School  Secretary,  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  society,  and  the  renewing  of  field  work  by  the 
appointment  of  superintendents  and  missionaries. 

A  Review  of  Transfer  by  Dr.  Capen 

This  period  in  the  history  of  the  society  was  reviewed  in  an 
address  by  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Capen,  at  Hartford,  May  25,  1899. 
In  it  he  states : 

"  In  1874  the  National  Council  recommended  that  the 


Secretaries 
Rev.  albert  E.  DUNNING.  D.D.  Rev.  GEORGE  M.  BOYNTON,  D.D. 

Rev.  frank  M.  SHELDON 
Rev.  frank  K.  SANDERS,  D.D.  Rev.  WILLIAM  EWING,  D.D. 


Years  of  Experiment  43 

missionary  Sunday-school  work  be  transferred  to  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  which  was  done  in  1876.  This  transfer 
was  made  against  the  judgment  of  many  of  the  officers  of  both 
Societies,  and  was  a  most  disastrous  act  of  denominational 
infanticide.  It  nearly  destroyed  the  Sunday-school  mission- 
ary work,  and  if  it  had  been  allowed  to  stand,  would  have 
severely  crippled  the  denomination. 

"  The  receipts  for  Sunday-school  work  to  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society  were  very  small,  and  those  of  the  Publishing 
Society  fell  from  $12,224  in  1873  to  $1,464  in  1879.  Shorn 
of  what  little  missionary  work  it  had  done,  the  Society  had 
small  hold  upon  the  denomination,  and  that  little  was  almost 
wholly  in  New  England." 

Dr.  Capen  calls  attention  to  these  additional  facts : 

"  The  increase  in  church  membership  fell  from  6,886  in 
1879  to  1,792  in  1880,  and  to  only  1,353  in  1881,  and  the  reason 
was  apparent.  From  1878  to  1882,  the  total  gain  in  Sunday- 
school  membership  was  18,837,  or  an  average  of  only  4,709 
per  year.  At  this  time  it  was  stated  that  more  than  one-half 
of  the  Congregational  churches  west  of  the  Mississippi  River 
had  no  Sunday  schools  under  their  control.  As  the  growth 
of  the  churches  comes  so  largely  from  the  young,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  our  church  growth  was  at  such  a  low  ebb.  We 
would  not  have  had  a  denomination  much  longer  if  we  had 
continued  that  policy.  But  in  1882  the  reorganization  of  our 
missionary  Sunday-school  work  was  begun,  and  the  gain  was 
most  remarkable.  In  the  next  four  years,  1883  to  1887,  the 
total  gain  in  our  Sunday-schools  was  67,504,  or  an  average  of 
nearly  17,000  per  year,  or  a  gain  of  350  per  cent,  over  the 
previous  four  years. 

"  In  the  judgment  of  some  of  our  wisest  men,  this  appoint- 
ment of  a  Sunday-school  secretary,  with  the  remodeling  of  the 
Society  to  do  active  pioneer  Sunday-school  work,  was  the 
turning-point  in  the  life  of  the  denomination  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  century." 


44  The  Sunday-School  Century 

The  denomination  suffered  by  this  transfer  and  inactivity 
in  its  Sunday-school  work  at  a  period  of  great  growth  and 
development  in  the  country.  In  addition  to  other  losses, 
grants  of  literature  to  the  schools  of  the  American  Missionary 
Association  and  the  American  Board  almost  entirely  ceased, 
and  very  little  aid  was  given  to  the  needy  schools  under  the 
care  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society. 

Retransfer  to  the  Sunday-School  Society 

Although  agitation  began  for  readjustment  soon  after  the 
transfer  had  been  made,  this  was  not  fully  accomplished 
until  six  years  of  unrest  and  loss  had  been  suffered.  In  May, 
1882,  the  missionary  work  was  by  mutual  agreement  restored, 
and  the  next  year  the  National  Council  passed  the  following 
resolution  in  relation  to  the  Sunday-School  Society: 

''Resolved:  That  this  Society  has  a  field  peculiarly  its  own  and  is  the 
legitimate  channel  for  our  national  Sunday-school  work,  and  that  we  are 
decided  in  our  opinion  that  contributions  for  Sunday-school  work  should  be 
forwarded  to  its  missionary  treasury." 

Memorials  were  sent  to  the  Board  by  state,  territorial  and 
local  Congregational  associations  asking  for  the  appointment 
of  superintendents  in  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Nebraska,  Wash- 
ington, Oregon,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  New  Mexico,  Minne- 
sota, South  Dakota,  North  Dakota,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  many  other  parts  of  the  country. 

Among  those  who  were  the  most  appreciative  of  the  restora- 
tion and  the  appointment  of  field  workers  were  the  superin- 
tendents of  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  In  1889,  eleven 
days  before  the  death  of  Rev.  George  H.  Atkinson,  D.D., 
superintendent  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  for  Oregon 
and  Washington,  he  wrote  to  the  Sunday-School  Society: 
"  We  rejoice  in  the  growth  of  your  Sunday-school  work  in  the 
new  states  and  territories  of  the  West.     It  is  in  many  respects 


Years  of  Experiment  45 

the  pioneer  of  the  Home  Missionary  church,  and  the  nucleus 
of  its  organization,  and  the  center  of  its  effective  work  in 
new  settlements  of  heterogeneous  population.  Had  you  be- 
gun ten  or  twenty  years  sooner,  we  would  have  had  many 
more  churches  in  Oregon.  We  did  what  we  could  with  your 
choice  Sunday-school  helps,  but  there  was  needed  long  ago 
one  or  more  agents  to  find  the  places,  plant  the  Sunday 
schools,  and  watch  over  and  help  them  in  active  and  steady 
operation.  Division  of  Home  Missionary  labors  adds  much 
to  their  power  for  good." 

Similar  testimonials  were  received  from  other  superin- 
tendents covering  nearly  the  entire  central  and  western  states 
and  territories. 


Chapter  VI 

REORGANIZATION   AND   ADVANCE 

General  Secretaries 

The  assurance  that  the  missionary,  as  well  as  the  educa- 
tional work,  would  be  taken  up  by  the  Sunday-School  Society 
raised  up  friends  and  gave  a  quickened  impulse. 

A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D. 

In  January,  1881,  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning  entered  the  service 
of  the  Society  as  Sunday-School  Secretary,  stimulating 
churches  by  correspondence  and  by  addresses  at  state  asso- 
ciations and  other  gatherings.  By  mutual  agreement  the 
Home  Missionary  Society  committed  to  the  Sunday-School 
Society  special  responsibility  in  regard  to  the  missionary 
Sunday-school  work,  and  this  was  assumed  in  May,  1882. 
This  action  on  the  part  of  the  two  Societies  was  ratified  by 
the  National  Council  at  its  meeting  in  1883.  The  name  of  the 
Society,  which  had  been  changed  for  the  sake  of  brevity  to 
The  Congregational  Publishing  Society,  was  again  changed  by 
act  of  legislature,  February  21,  1883,  to  The  Congregational 
Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society,  that  it  might  be 
expressive  of  the  work  in  which  it  was  engaged.  It  is  un- 
officially stated  that  a  reward  was  offered  to  any  one  who 
would  give  a  shorter,  satisfactory  name,  but  the  reward  was 
not  claimed. 

The  employment  of  field  workers  greatly  increased  the 
demands  for  Sunday-school  literature,  and  its  quality  was  im- 
proved. The  business  department  quickly  felt  the  impulse  of 
the  reunited  society  in  the  enlarged  patronage  of  the  churches 

46 


Early  Superintendents 


Rev.  JOHN  L.  MAILE 


Rev.  JEREMIAH  E.  PLATT 


Rev.  HARLAN  P.  CASE 


Rev.  JEREMIAH  D.  STEWART 
Rev.  JOHN  R.  REITZEL 


Reorganization  and  Advance  47 

and  Sunday-schools.  The  capital,  however,  was  insufficient, 
and  between  1883  and  1886,  under  the  leadership  of  Secretary 
Dunning  and  President  Capen,  about  $20,000  was  contributed 
for  putting  the  business  on  a  better  financial  basis. 

In  1883  Mr.  M.  C.  Hazard  was  secured  as  western  secretary, 
with  headquarters  at  Chicago.  Here  Dr.  Hazard  rendered 
valuable  service,  devoting  part  of  his  time  to  editorial  work, 
and  after  two  years  became  editor  with  headquarters  at  Bos- 
ton. In  1884  Dr.  Blake  resigned  as  secretary  of  the  board, 
and  Dr.  Dunning  was  made  general  secretary.  In  1886  a 
branch  house  was  permanently  established  in  Chicago,  and 
the  agency,  which  had  been  under  the  care  of  Rev.  E.  J. 
Alden,  was  transferred  to  the  business  management  of  Mr. 
J.  H.  Tewksbury.  In  the  same  year  W.  A.  Duncan,  Ph.D., 
who  had  served  as  superintendent  for  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania since  1884,  was  made  field  secretary,  in  which  capacity 
he  served  for  twenty  years.  He  was  instrumental  in  securing 
increased  gifts  from  churches  and  individuals,  and  extended 
widely  the  influence  of  the  Home  Department,  of  which  he 
was  the  founder  and  foremost  promoter. 

During  this  period  of  great  activity,  the  Pilgrim  Teacher 
was  established  in  1885,  and  soon  took  its  place  in  the  front 
rank  of  Sunday-school  magazines;  other  publications  of  the 
society  were  improved.  The  society  in  every  department 
was  greatly  strengthened  by  the  strong  leadership  of  Dr. 
Dunning,  and  the  entire  denomination  felt  new  life  and  hope 
through  greatly  enlarged  Sunday-school  and  church  member- 
ship. 

The  first  year  after  the  reorganization  the  income  increased 
from  $1,200  to  $6,057,  and  in  the  next  six  years  reached 
$45,463. 

In  1888  Dr.  Dunning  resigned  to  accept  the  editorship  of 
The  Congregationalist.  The  seven  years  of  his  official  service 
made  a  lasting  impression  upon  the  Society  and  the  de- 
nomination. 


48  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Rev.  Asa  Bullard 

The  honorary  secretary,  Rev.  Asa  Bullard,  continued  his 
activity  during  the  larger  part  of  the  administration  of  Dr. 
Dunning.  Few  men  have  been  given  the  privilege  of  so  long 
and  useful  a  service  in  any  department  of  Christian  activity. 
His  connection  with  the  Society  dated  from  1834  until  his 
death,  April  5, 1888:  for  forty  years  as  Secretary,  and  fourteen 
years  as  Honorary  Secretary.  He  was  always  enthusiastic 
and  untiring,  visiting  the  schools  and  churches  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  occasionally  making  long  journeys  into  the  interior 
of  the  country,  which  was  then  considered  the  far  West. 

Mr.  Bullard  performed  the  duties  of  corresponding  and 
recording  secretary,  kept  the  records  of  the  board  of  managers 
and  of  its  various  committees,  prepared  the  annual  reports,  and 
had  large  responsibility  in  regard  to  the  publications.  In 
addition  to  the  regular  editorial  duties,  he  prepared  many 
books  especially  for  httle  people.  But  the  work  in  which  he 
had  the  greatest  joy  was  in  visiting  Sunday-schools  and 
churches,  large  and  small,  stimulating  the  earnest  study  of  the 
Bible,  cultivating  the  benevolence  of  the  Sunday-schools, 
strongly  advocating  total  abstinence,  and  carrying  every- 
where a  benign  countenance  and  winsome  personality.  Many 
who  are  still  living  remember  this  tall,  dignified,  Christian 
gentleman,  who,  when  they  were  children,  was  wont  to  place 
his  hand  lovingly  upon  their  heads  with  kindly  benediction. 
The  period  of  honorary  secretaryship  rounded  out  a  life  of 
singular  usefulness. 

George  M.  Boynton,  D.D. 

The  magnetic  leadership  of  Dr.  Dunning  enabled  the  so- 
ciety to  take  its  place  with  similar  organizations  of  other 
denominations.  So  largely  had  the  work  grown  that  in  1888 
Rev.  George  M.  Boynton,  who  had  served  for  seven  years  on 
the  directorate,  was  elected  Associate  Secretary,  and  on  the 


Reorganization  and  Advance  49 

resignation  of  Dr.  Dunning,  became  General  Secretary.  The 
society  had  grown  rapidly  and  furnished  a  great  opportunity 
for  the  wise,  methodical  leadership  for  which  Dr.  Boynton 
was  especially  quahfied.  The  different  departments  which 
were  developing  needed  to  be  clearly  defined  and  closely 
organized.  In  the  first  five  years  of  Dr.  Boynton's  adminis- 
tration the  income  increased  from  $45,463  to  $65,699,  and  ten 
years  later  to  $73,484. 

The  bequests  which  during  the  period  of  transfer  and  for 
some  time  afterwards  were  neghgible,  now  became  an  im- 
portant addition  to  the  income.  As  a  wise  business  policy 
the  equalizing  legacy  fund  was  estabhshed,  which  gave 
stability  to  the  work  by  providing  against  sudden  fluctuations 
in  receipts. 

When  Dr.  Boynton  entered  the  service,  superintendents 
were  at  work  in  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Southern  California, 
Colorado,  Michigan,  Washington,  South  Dakota,  Iowa, 
Ilhnois,  Wisconsin,  North  Dakota,  Ohio,  and  Indiana.  Dur- 
ing his  administration  the  work  was  enlarged  to  include  the 
entire  western,  interior,  and  southern  states;  and  also  valua- 
ble service  was  rendered  in  New  England  and  other  eastern 
states. 

The  superintendents  were  selected  in  consultation  and  on 
recommendation  by  state  representatives.  They  carried  on 
the  work  in  closest  connection  with  ministers,  churches,  local 
and  state  associations,  and  representatives  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society.  The  duties  of  the  workers  were  defined  to 
be: 

1.  "To  improve  the  conditions  of  existing  Sunday-schools 
and  to  bring  them  into  closer  relations  with  the  churches. 

2.  "  To  plant  Sunday-schools  in  places  where  there  is 
promise  of  the  organization  of  Congregational  churches. 

3.  "  To  plant  mission  schools  in  neighborhoods  where  they 
can  be  cared  for  by  Congregational  churches. 

4.  "To  reorganize  Sunday-schools  in  places  where  they  have 


50  The  Sunday-School  Century 

been  abandoned  by  churches,  and  where  churches  themselves 
have  died  out." 

Many  of  the  states  a^ked  not  only  for  superintendents  but 
for  missionaries  to  cultivate  districts,  and  strengthen  the 
work  until  it  could  be  turned  over  to  the  care  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society  or  became  self-supporting. 

The  rapid  growth  of  both  missionary  operations  and 
pubhshing  interests  demanded  vigorous  but  cautious  business 
management.  This  rare  combination  Dr.  Boynton  furnished 
during  the  fifteen  years  in  which  he  was  General  Secretary, 
and  continued  for  two  years  as  Missionary  Secretary,  until 
he  resigned  in  1907  on  account  of  failing  health. 

Dr.  Boynton  had  unusual  discrimination  in  the  selection 
of  workers,  was  devoted  to  them,  and  had  the  loyal  support 
and  affection  of  his  associates.  He  rendered  for  the  churches 
of  the  entire  fellowship  a  great  and  lasting  service,  which  will 
tell  in  the  hves  of  a  vast  multitude  of  children  and  young 
people,  and  also  adults,  who  were  furnished  with  the  advan- 
tages of  religious  training  by  means  of  the  organization  which 
he  so  wisely  directed. 

Fra^nk  K.  Sanders,  D.D. 

The  selection,  in  1905,  of  Rev.  Frank  K.  Sanders,  D.D., 
dean  of  Yale  Divinity  School,  as  general  secretary,  was  in 
accordance  with  the  demands  made  for  Sunday-school  educa- 
tional improvement.  Dr.  Sanders  had  won  a  wide  reputation 
as  a  Bible  teacher,  Sunday-school  writer,  and  leader  in  move- 
ments for  religious  education. 

The  National  Council  and  other  Congregational  organiza- 
tions gave  hearty  endorsement  to  the  efforts  of  the  Society 
for  improving  its  literature  and  the  quality  of  Sunday-school 
instruction.  The  plan  of  having  district  educational  secre- 
taries to  cooperate  with  the  field  workers  was  begun,  and  the 
formation  of  a  distinct  educational  department  was  outhned. 


Reorganization  and  Advance  51 

During  the  three  years  of  Dr.  Sanders'  service  the  number  of 
workers  was  increased,  and  the  income  of  the  society  enlarged. 
In  1908  he  resigned  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Washburn 
College. 

William  Ewing,  D.D. 

On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Boynton,  Rev.  William  Ewing, 
who  had  been  superintendent  for  the  Society  in  North  Dakota 
and  Michigan,  was  called  to  the  missionary  secretaryship. 
Dr.  Ewing  brought  to  the  service  a  wide  experience  and  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  the  fields,  the  work,  and  the  workers. 
New  educational  demands,  and  especially  the  introduction 
of  graded  courses  of  instruction,  called  for  educational  leader- 
ship. The  number  of  field  educational  secretaries  was 
enlarged,  and  Sunday-school  institutes  and  conferences,  which 
had  always  been  an  important  part  of  the  service  of  the  field 
workers,  increased  in  number  and  scope. 

To  describe  more  fully  the  work  of  the  Missionary  Depart- 
ment, the  term  "  Extension  "  was  added  in  1910,  and  the 
field  missionary,  extension,  and  educational  work  was  con- 
ducted under  the  designation,  the  Missionary  and  Extension 
Department. 

In  addition  to  the  enlarged  emphasis  placed  upon  the  im- 
provement of  schools,  the  calls  continued  for  pioneer  mission- 
ary work  in  the  new  states  of  the  West.  Changes  in  popula- 
tion and  the  incoming  of  foreign  peoples  in  the  interior  states 
and  the  East  demanded  and  received  increased  effort,  and  the 
rapid  growth  of  cities  called  for  the  organization  of  Sunday- 
schools,  by  which  Christian  forces  were  united  and  foundations 
laid  for  strong  churches.  The  co-operation  of  the  workers 
of  different  denominations  made  possible  in  certain  sections 
effective  combinations,  which  led  to  fewer  schools,  though 
larger  in  membership  and  more  efficient.  There  had  been  a 
serious  dechne  in  membership  of  Congregational  Sunday- 
schools,  as  in  those  of  other  denominations.     Many  of  the 


52  The  Sunday-School  Century 

field  workers  secured  the  co-operation  of  their  state  organiza- 
tions in  vigorous  campaigns  for  the  improvement  of  schools 
and  for  increasing  their  membership.  For  the  decade,  closing 
1916,  the  average  number  of  new  schools  organized  was  284. 
During  the  same  period  the  Sunday-school  membership  in- 
creased from  678,620  to  773,028. 


Chapter  VII 

DEPARTMENTAL  DIVISIONS 

Missionary  and  Extension 

The  efforts  of  the  society  from  the  beginning  were  for  the 
promotion  of  rehgious  education  through  Sunday-schools 
already  established  or  by  organizing  others  in  places  where 
they  were  needed.  The  work  of  the  society  during  the  first 
half  century  of  its  history  is  included  in  the  missionary, 
extension,  and  educational  activities.  The  publication  of 
literature  and  the  establishing  of  agencies  centered  around  the 
propagation  and  improvement  of  Sunday-schools.  The  larger 
demands  made  by  the  denomination  for  pubHcations,  and  in- 
creased business  in  the  various  book  agencies,  led  to  the 
establishing  of  large  and  well-equipped  bookstores  in  Boston 
and  Chicago,  the  development  of  agencies  in  other  centers 
throughout  the  country,  and  the  purchasing  of  The  Congrega- 
tionalist  and  later  The  Advance.  The  high  ideal,  however, 
was  ever  kept,  that  the  entire  business  of  the  Society  was  not 
commercial,  but  educational  and  missionary. 

The  Business  Department 

When  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  was 
organized,  a  depository  was  at  once  established  at  25  Cornhill, 
Boston,  and  after  three  years  removed  to  13  Cornhill,  where  it 
remained  until  1873.  The  depository  of  the  Congregational 
Board  of  Publication  transferred  its  business  to  the  same 
place  in  1862  and  the  two  depositories  were  brought  under 
the  direction  of  one  agent,  but  their  accounts  were  kept 
separate  for  six  years  until  the  two  societies  united.  In  1873 
the  united  society  took  up  its  abode  in  the  newly  acquired 

£3 


64  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Congregational  House,  secured  by  the  American  Congrega- 
tional Association  as  Congregational  Headquarters,  at  the 
corner  of  Beacon  and  Somerset  Streets,  Boston,  where  a 
convenient  and  attractive  bookstore  was  estabhshed.  This 
proved  to  be  a  very  great  advantage  to  the  Sunday-School 
Society,  as  to  other  Congregational  agencies.  With  the 
growth  of  the  denomination  larger  accommodations  were 
needed,  and  a  new  Congregational  House  was  erected  at  14 
Beacon  Street,  where  the  Society  removed  in  1897.  The 
pleasant  and  convenient  quarters  proved  an  important  factor 
in  the  enlarging  and  strengthening  of  the  operations  of  the 
Society  in  every  department. 

In  the  early  days  of  Sunday-school  effort  the  hterary  ma- 
terial was  Kmited  and  was  prepared  and  circulated  almost 
wholly  as  a  benevolence.  Little  attention  was  given  to 
conducting  the  enterprise  so  that  it  would  be  financially 
profitable.  The  Sabbath  School  Visiter,  issued  monthly, 
was  at  first  the  only  periodical,  but  soon  a  larger  Hterary 
output  was  found  necessary  and  a  variety  of  question  books 
and  other  material  was  gradually  added. 

The  first  agent,  Mr.  C.  C.  Dean,  who  had  occupied  a  similar 
position  with  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union,  was 
elected  in  1832  and  served  until  his  death  in  1854.  In  these 
days  of  small  beginnings  foundations  of  vast  importance  were 
laid,  and  the  agent  had  large  opportunities,  in  co-operation 
with  the  secretary,  for  securing  fitting  Hterature  and  seeing 
that  it  was  helpfully  distributed  by  sale,  when  possible,  and 
by  gifts  to  needy  schools.  After  the  merging  of  the  Con- 
gregational Board  of  Pubhcation  with  the  Massachusetts 
Sabbath-School  Society  in  1868  a  new  impetus  was  given  to 
the  business  department. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Dean,  Mr.  Moses  H.  Sargent  was 
elected  agent  and  treasurer,  and  held  both  offices  until  1877. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Sargent,  Mr.  George  P.  Smith 
was  chosen  agent,  having  special  charge  of  the  bookstore  at 


Departmental  Divisions  55 

Boston,  and  held  the  position  until  his  death  in  1896,  faith- 
fully serving  the  society  for  fifty  years.  On  account  of  the 
growth  of  the  business.  Rev.  M.  M.  Cutter  was  associated 
with  Mr.  Smith  in  1885  and  1886. 

In  1886  Mr.  W.  F.  Whittemore  was  elected  business  man- 
ager, serving  successfully  for  ten  years,  during  which  time  the 
business  grew  from  $134,700  to  $250,000. 

The  Chicago  Agency 

As  the  result  of  different  efforts  in  the  West,  an  agency  was 
estabhshed  in  Chicago  in  1873,  under  the  charge  of  Mr. 
John  Fairbanks.  On  account  of  the  strong  competition  of 
independent  pubHshers  and  the  want  of  denominational 
loyalty,  together  with  the  business  depression  of  the  time,  the 
undertaking  met  with  many  difficulties,  and  was  continued 
but  a  brief  period.  The  society  then  made  use  of  agencies  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  for  circulating  its  literature. 
Among  these  was  the  business  of  Rev.  E.  J.  Alden  of  Chicago, 
estabhshed  in  1881;  and  in  1886  Mr.  Alden  became  the 
Chicago  agent. 

With  the  rapid  development  of  the  society,  the  Chicago 
agency  required  the  services  of  a  man  of  business  experience, 
and  Mr.  J.  H.  Tewksbury  was  made  the  Chicago  business 
manager.  He  continued  in  this  position  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Smith  in  1896,  when  he  was  given  general  oversight  of 
other  agencies,  and  in  1889  was  made  business  manager. 
During  his  administration  the  pubhcations  of  the  society 
were  kept  abreast  of  the  time,  and  the  imprint,  "  Pilgrim 
Press,"  was  adopted,  which  helped  to  increase  their  circula- 
tion among  other  denominations. 

On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Tewksbury,  Mr.  L.  H.  Cary  was 
called  as  business  manager.  Mr.  Cary  had  the  benefit  of 
experience  with  the  society  in  Chicago  as  a  young  man,  and 
had  built  up  a  successful  business  in  San  Francisco  as  the 


56  The  Sunday-School  Century 

representative  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Congregational 
Sunday-School  Societies.  During  the  period  of  Mr.  Gary's 
service  the  literature  of  The  Pilgrim  Press  maintained  its  high 
standard  and  the  business  of  the  society  rapidly  increased. 
Through  the  generous  provision  made  by  Mr.  J.  J.  Arakelyan 
an  extensive  printing  plant  was  donated  to  the  society,  which 
greatly  increased  the  number  of  its  publications.  These  in 
larger  measure  than  ever  before  met  the  needs  of  the  denomina- 
tion, and  also  secured  a  recognized  place  in  the  markets  of 
the  country. 

The  Editorial  Department 

The  beginning  of  the  modern  Sunday-school  movement 
marked  an  epoch  in  the  publishing  of  religious  literature, 
which  at  this  time  was  largely  doctrinal  and  controversial. 
The  broad,  fraternal  spirit  of  the  entire  Sunday-school  work 
eliminated  to  a  great  extent  controversial  literature.  The 
call  for  Sunday-school  material  was  at  first  met  in  a  measure 
by  such  organizations  as  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of 
Christian  Knowledge,  tract  societies,  and  independent  pub- 
lishing houses.  The  American  Sunday-School  Union  soon 
found  it  necessary  to  publish. 

When  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  was 
organized,  it  published  the  first  year  twenty-one  new  Sabbath- 
school  books,  and  the  Sabbath  School  Visiter,  which  began  with 
a  circulation  of  five  thousand. 

The  election  of  Rev.  Asa  Bullard  brought  into  the  Congre- 
gational editorship  one  of  the  most  voluminous  Sunday-school 
writers  of  his  time.  Under  his  leadership  the  Sabbath  School 
Visiter  was  continued,  with  increasing  usefulness,  until  1844, 
when  it  became  The  Congregational  Visiter.  In  the  same  year 
The  Wellspring  was  estabhshed  with  Mr.  Bullard  as  editor, 
and  in  five  months  had  a  circulation  of  eighteen  thousand. 
It  became  at  once  a  marked  feature  in  the  publications  of  the 


Editors 


MARSHALL  C.  HAZARD,  Ph.D. 

Ret.  BENJAMIN  S.  WINCHESTER.,  D.D. 


Rev.  HOWARD  A,  BRIDGMAN,  D.D. 
SIDNEY  A.  WESTON,  Ph.D. 


Departmental  Divisions  57 

society,  and  has  continued  to  be  a  leading  Sunday-school 
paper,  with  ever-widening  circulation  and  influence.  The 
Congregational  Visiter  answered  a  useful  purpose  in  stimulat- 
ing the  best  Sunday-school  methods  of  that  period,  and  laid 
the  foundations  for  The  Pilgrim  Teacher,  quarterlies,  and  other 
pubhcations  which  have  been  circulated  by  hundreds  of 
thousands. 

A  large  editorial  work  was  done  by  prominent  ministers. 
Rev.  John  A.  Albro,  D.D.,  of  Cambridge,  was  the  author  of 
several  of  the  society's  valuable  library  books  and  a  large 
number  of  popular  question  books.  He  edited  the  Bibhcal 
and  Theological  Dictionary  issued  by  the  Society,  a  hymn 
book  entitled  Vestry  Songs,  and  translated  several  books  from 
the  French. 

An  historical  sketch  states:  "  During  the  first  seven  years 
the  Society  pubhshed  352  works,  of  which  203  were  for  libra- 
ries, 17  were  question  books,  and  3  were  singing-books.  At 
the  date  of  its  union  with  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publica- 
tion, it  had  issued  750  publications  of  different  classes,  of 
which  700  were  bound  volumes  suitable  for  Sunday-school 
hbraries.  They  were  by  our  best  writers;  and  no  simpler 
and  clearer  statement,  or  in  purer  style,  of  the  essential 
doctrines  and  duties  of  the  gospel  can  be  found." 

An  examination  of  these  books  kept  in  the  Congregational 
Library,  Boston,  proves  that  this  estimate  in  regard  to  many 
of  them  is  well  founded. 

Organizing  the  Department 

During  the  first  years  of  the  Doctrinal  Tract  and  Book 
Society  its  literary  material  was  selected  by  committees,  and 
either  purchased  or  reprinted;  hence,  the  editorial  position 
did  not  for  some  time  occupy  a  prominent  place.  The  first 
secretary,  Rev.  Jonas  Perkins,  and  his  successor.  Rev.  Sewall 
Harding,  were  given  editorial  responsibility,  shared  by  lead- 


58  The  Sunday-School  Century 

ing  ministers  of  the  denomination,  and  in  this  way  a  large 
service  was  rendered  of  which  no  adequate  record  can  be 
made. 

With  the  merging  of  the  Congregational  Board  of  Publica- 
tion and  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society,  a  divi- 
sion was  made  between  Sunday-school  publications,  and  those 
that  were  theological  and  general,  each  having  its  own  com- 
mittee of  examination  and  selection.  Under  the  direction  of 
these  committees,  hterature  for  Sunday-schools  was  secured 
from  such  writers  as  Rev.  R.  R.  Meredith,  D.D,,  Rev.  Charles 
B.  Rice,  D.D.,  and  other  prominent  ministers. 

With  the  election  of  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  in  1881, 
a  new  impetus  was  given  to  the  issuing  of  Sunday-school 
literature.  Rev.  Mortimer  Blake,  who  was  secretary  of  the 
board,  had  oversight  in  regard  to  general  publications  until 
1883,  when  Dr.  Dunning  was  made  general  secretary,  which 
included  editorial  responsibility. 

Doctor  Hazard 

The  development  of  the  pubhcations  of  the  Society  called 
for  the  organization  of  a  distinct  editorial  department.  The 
Society  was  fortunate  in  securing  in  1884,  as  its  first  editor. 
Dr.  M.  C.  Hazard,  who  had  gained  wide  experience  as  editor 
of  the  National  Sunday-School  Teacher,  and  in  a  leading  edi- 
torial position  on  the  Sunday-School  Times.  As  western 
secretary  he  had  been  brought  into  close  connection  with  the 
Sunday-school  needs  and  opportunities  of  the  Congregational 
churches.  His  own  literary  output  was  large,  and  he  secured 
the  services  of  an  able  company  of  writers  for  the  different 
departments  and  grades  of  the  Sunday-school. 

Mrs.  JuHa  H.  Boynton  became  editor  of  The  Wellspring 
in  1884,  and  for  ten  years  kept  it  at  its  high  standard.  Mrs. 
Boynton  was  succeeded  by  Willis  Boyd  Allen,  a  noted  writer 
of  literature  for  young  people.     After  this  it  was  put  in  the 


Departmental  Divisions  59 

regular  editorial  department  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Hazard 
and  his  successors. 

Provision  was  made  for  the  younger  people  by  such  writers 
as  Mrs.  WilHam  Barrows  and  Mrs.  W.  F.  Crafts,  who  edited 
the  Little  Pilgrim,  a  variety  of  Question  Books,  Notes,  and 
Teachers'  Quarterlies.  In  1885  the  Monday  Club  Sermons 
were  issued,  giving  a  discourse  by  prominent  ministers  on 
each  of  the  International  Lessons  for  the  fifty-two  Sundays 
of  the  year.  These  were  widely  circulated,  and  have  been 
issued  each  year  since  that  time. 

The  Sunday-school  hterature  was  extended  in  circulation, 
and  Sunday-school  libraries  were  greatly  improved,  and  as- 
sumed more  importance  in  the  operations  of  the  society.  A 
Normal  Course  was  issued  in  connection  with  the  International 
Sunday-School  Association,  in  which  "  Bible  Studies,"  by 
Dr.  Dunning,  were  widely  used. 

In  1889  Rev.  John  L.  Kilbon  became  editor's  assistant,  and 
afterwards  managing  editor,  when  this  office  was  created. 
During  thirteen  years  Mr.  Kilbon  did  scholarly  work  of  much 
value  to  the  Society.  In  1902  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Charles  A.  Brand,  whose  facile  pen  and  artistic  ability  added 
many  attractive  features  to  the  Hterary  output.  The  Pilgrim 
Teacher,  which  from  its  beginning  ranked  high  among  similar 
pubhcations,  was  enlarged,  made  more  attractive,  and  its 
influence  greatly  increased. 

A  Pilgrim  Series  of  practical  educational  leaflets  was  issued, 
including  Decision  Day  and  How  to  Use  It,  Little  Parishes 
of  Eight,  and  Joining  the  Church.  These  and  others  of  similar 
character  did  much  for  the  improvement  and  enlargement  of 
the  Sunday  schools. 

In  carrying  out  the  plans  for  educational  improvement, 
the  editorial  force  was  still  further  strengthened  by  the  addi- 
tion of  Sidney  A.  Weston,  Ph.D.,  instructor  in  BibHcal  Htera- 
ture at  Yale  University.  On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Brand  in 
1909,  Dr.  Weston  was  made  managing  editor. 


60  The  Sunday-School  Century 

During  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Hazard  the  editorial  depart- 
ment was  put  in  position  to  provide  helps  demanded  for  all  de- 
partments of  the  Sunday-school,  and  they  were  of  such  quahty 
that  they  were  generally  used  by  the  denomination.  Much 
was  done  for  the  improvement  of  the  music  of  the  schools 
and  churches  by  issuing  Sunday-school  and  church  hymnals 
of  high  grade.  Special  occasions  such  as  Easter,  Children's 
Day,  Rally  Day,  and  Christmas  were  provided  with  exercises 
of  excellent  quality.  A  series  of  graded  literature  was  issued, 
and  steps  were  taken  for  a  completely  graded  curriculum. 
This  did  much  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  adoption  of  graded 
courses  by  the  leading  denominations  and  the  International 
Association. 

Dr.  Winchester 

"When  Dr.  Hazard  retired  in  1910,  and  became  editor 
emeritus.  Rev.  Benjamin  S.  Winchester,  D.D.,  was  called  to 
the  editorship.  The  demands  made  by  the  National  Council, 
state  conferences,  and  individual  churches  for  a  larger  educa- 
tional emphasis  were  borne  in  mind  and  Dr.  Winchester  was 
called  as  editor  and  educational  secretary.  The  issuing  of 
the  graded  series  of  Sunday-school  lessons  was  carried  through 
and  met  with  general  acceptance.  A  more  elaborate  series 
than  had  hitherto  been  provided  for  teacher  training  was 
issued.  The  Pilgrim  Hymnal  for  churches  was  revised,  and 
Worship  and  Song,  which  marked  an  advance  in  Sunday-school 
hymnology,  was  pubHshed.  The  Pilgrim  Standard  and  many 
educational  leaflets  were  widely  circulated. 

Dr.  Winchester  cooperated  with  the  field  force  of  the  Mis- 
sionary and  Extension  Department  for  the  improvement  of 
the  entire  Sunday-school  work.  Cooperation  between  the 
Sunday-school  societies  of  different  denominations  was 
strengthened  by  such  organizations  as  the  Religious  Educa- 
tion Association,  the  Sunday  School  Council  of  Evangelical 
Denominations  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  the 


Departmental  Divisions  61 . 

International  Sunday  School  Association.     In  all  of  these 
movements  Dr.  Winchester  had  an  important  part. 

In  1915  Dr.  Winchester  resigned  to  accept  a  professorship 
in  the  Department  of  Rehgious  Education  in  the  Yale  School 
of  Religion.  On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Winchester,  Sidney 
A.  Weston,  Ph.D.,  became  the  editor  of  religious  publications. 
The  services  of  Dr.  Weston  as  a  practical  Sunday-school 
worker  and  teacher  have  done  much  for  the  improvement  of 
the  literature  from  the  standpoint  of  religious  education. 

The  Congregationalist 

The  oldest  rehgious  newspaper  in  the  country  was  The 
Boston  Recorder,  estabhshed  in  January,  1816,  by  Dea.  Na- 
thaniel Willis,  with  Mr.  Sydney  E.  Morse  as  its  first  editor. 
In  1817  Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs  of  Braintree  took  the  place  of 
Mr.  Morse,  and  was  succeeded  in  1825  by  Mr.  Gerard  Hallock, 
who  was  proprietor  of  The  Telegraph,  a  pubhcation  estabhshed 
a  year  previously,  which  he  merged  with  The  Recorder.  In 
1849  The  New  England  Puritan,  which  had  been  estabhshed 
in  1840,  by  Rev.  Parsons  Cooke,  united  with  The  Recorder, 
under  the  new  title.  The  Puritan  Recorder.  In  1841  the 
Hartford  Congregationalist  was  purchased  and  absorbed  by 
The  Puritan  Recorder.  In  1858  the  paper  took  its  original 
name.  The  Boston  Recorder,  which  it  retained  until  it  merged 
with  The  Congregationalist. 

The  Congregationalist  was  established  in  1849,  and  absorbed 
the  Boston  Reporter,  its  first  proprietors  were  Dea.  Galen 
James  and  Dea.  Edward  W.  Fay.  Its  first  editors,  Rev. 
Edward  Beecher,  D.D.,  Rev.  Joseph  Haven,  Jr.,  and  Rev. 
I.  N.  Tarbox;  with  Rev.  E.  D.  Moore  office  editor. 

In  1850  Mr.  Haven  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard  S. 
Storrs,  Jr.,  and  in  1851,  Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter  took  the  place  of 
Mr.  Tarbox,  who  became  secretary  of  the  American  Educa- 
tion Society.     In  1851  the  Christian  Times  was  merged  with 


62  The  Sunday-School  Century 

The  Congregationalist.  In  1853  Dr.  Beecher  retired,  and  Rev. 
A.  L.  Stone  succeeded  him.  Dr.  Dexter  served  as  associate 
editor  until  1866,  when  he  retired  for  one  year,  and  then  re- 
sumed his  connection  on  the  editorial  staff  and  became  one  of 
the  proprietors. 

In  1856  Messrs.  C.  A.  Richardson  and  W.  L.  Greene  were 
admitted  as  junior  partners.  Mr.  Richardson  became  man- 
aging editor,  and  Dr.  Dexter  editor-in-chief.  A  large  num- 
ber of  pastors  and  others  were  reHed  upon  for  editorial, 
as  well  as  for  general  articles.  This  arrangement  continued 
for  ten  years. 

In  1867  The  Boston  Recorder  and  The  Congregationalist 
were  consohdated,  bearing  the  name  The  Congregationalist 
and  Boston  Recorder,  under  the  proprietorship  of  Messrs. 
W.  L.  Greene  &  Company.  At  different  times  there  were 
merged  with  The  Congregationalist,  The  Maine  Evangelist, 
New  Hampshire  Congregational  Journal,  Christian  Reporter, 
Western  Independent,  Christian  Mirror,  and  several  other 
pubHcations. 

The  Congregationalist  had  many  points  of  contact  with 
The  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society. 
For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  W.  F.  Whittemore,  pubhsher  of 
The  Congregationalist,  was  also  business  manager  of  the 
Sunday-School  Society.  In  1889  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D., 
secretary  of  The  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publish- 
ing Society,  was  selected  as  editor  of  The  Congregationalist,  in 
succession  to  Dr.  Dexter.  Both  institutions  were  intimately 
associated  in  a  business  way  with  the  Thomas  Todd  printing 
establishment. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  twentieth  century  a  denominational 
consciousness  called  for  a  closer  relationship  between  all  the 
Congregational  agencies.  In  accordance  with  this,  a  move- 
ment was  initiated  by  a  number  of  prominent  laymen  and 
ministers  for  the  purchase  and  conduct  of  The  Congregational- 
ist by  one  of  the  societies  of  the  denomination.     By  common 


Departmental  Divisions  63 

consent  it  was  agreed  that  this  should  be  the  Sunday-School 
and  Publishing  Society.  This  action  was  recommended  by 
such  representative  laymen  as  Samuel  B.  Capen,  LL.D,, 
Charles  A.  Hopkins,  Herbert  A.  Wilder,  Henry  H.  Proctor, 
George  E.  Keith,  Frankhn  P.  Shumway,  Arthur  H.  Wellman 
and  others. 

By  this  connection  the  oldest  religious  newspaper  in 
America,  published  at  the  birthplace  and  home  of  the  de- 
nomination in  this  country,  was  given  a  secure  denominational 
standing. 

Its  editor  for  eleven  years.  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  was 
immediately  chosen  his  own  successor,  and  continued  his 
brilhant  and  sagacious  editorial  career.  Rev.  Howard  A. 
Bridgman,  D.D.,  who  joined  the  editorial  staff  in  1887  be- 
came managing  editor  in  1889.  Mr.  J.  H.  Tewksbury,  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  Sunday-School  Society,  became  the 
publisher.  The  new  staff  consisted  of  Dr.  Dunning,  Dr. 
Bridgman,  Rev.  Isaac  O.  Rankin,  George  P.  Morris,  Miss 
Anne  L.  Buckley,  and  Miss  Florence  S.  Fuller.  In  1911  Dr. 
Dunning  requested  to  be  released  from  editorial  responsibility. 
His  twenty-two  years  of  distinguished  service  in  a  time  of 
change  and  transition  made  a  large  contribution  through 
rehgious  journalism  for  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  and 
the  denomination.  He  was  succeeded  as  editor  by  Dr. 
Bridgman,  long  connected  with  The  Congregationalist.  Mr. 
Rolfe  Cobleigh,  formerly  associated  with  the  Springfield 
Republican,  became  managing  editor.  In  1913  Rev.  Parris  T. 
Farwell  became  hterary  editor.  From  the  beginning  of  its 
management  the  society  sought  to  deal  liberally  with  the 
paper,  to  maintain  its  best  traditions,  and  keep  it  in  the  fore- 
front of  American  religious  journalism. 

The  Congregationalist  has  always  been  ably  represented  by 
correspondents  in  different  centers  throughout  the  country 
and  abroad.  Its  western  editors  and  correspondents  at  Chi- 
cago have  been  such  men  as  Rev.  Simeon  Gilbert,  D.D.,  Rev. 


64  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Franklin  E.  Williams,  D.D.,  Rev.  J.  H.  Chandler,  George  H. 
Anderson,  Rev.  J.  A.  Adams,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  R.  W.  Gammon, 
D.D.,  all  of  whom  have  rendered  distinguished  service. 

In  1867  Miss  Ellen  M.  Stone  was  added  to  the  staff,  the 
first  woman  to  have  a  place  on  The  Congregationalist,  and 
probably  the  first  woman  journalist  in  Boston.  Since  that 
time  a  goodly  company  of  ladies  have  been  connected  with 
the  paper,  including  Miss  Sarah  K.  Bolton,  Miss  Frances  J. 
Dyer,  Miss  Ida  E.  Kittredge,  Miss  Mary  Barrows,  Miss 
Henrietta  H.  Stanwood  (Mrs.  Charles  B.  Rice),  Miss  Anne  L. 
Buckley,  Miss  Florence  S.  Fuller  and  others. 

That  the  Congregational  public  approved  the  passing  of  the 
paper  from  private  to  denominational  ownership  is  evidenced 
by  the  cordial  support  given  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 
The  move  was  in  line  with  modern  Congregational  tendencies, 
whereby  important  enterprises  are  brought  under  denomina- 
tional control.  The  board  of  directors  has  conducted  the 
paper  by  choosing  each  year  the  editor,  a  publisher,  and  a 
committee  for  general  counsel. 

By  recommendation  of  the  National  Council  of  1917  The 
Advance,  of  Chicago,  was  purchased  and  merged  with  The 
Congregationalist  under  the  name  The  Congregationalist  and 
Advance. 

The  Educational  Department 

The  first  charter  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School 
Society,  secured  from  the  legislature  in  1841,  made  provision 
for  educational  improvement  as  an  important  feature  in 
connection  with  the  operations  of  the  society.  The  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  society  in  1882  arose  from  the  desire  for  improved 
instruction,  as  well  as  extension  of  Sunday-school  work. 

The  first  article  defined  the  work  of  the  field  force  to  be 
"  to  improve  the  condition  of  existing  schools."  The  en- 
couragement of  normal  work,  teacher  training,  and  Sunday- 


First  Educational  Secretaries 


Rev.  JAMES  P.  O'BRIEN,  D.D. 
Rkv.  ROBERT  W.  GAMMON,  D.D. 


Rev.  miles  B.  FISHER,   D.D. 
Rev.  MILTON  S.  LITTLEFIELD.  D.D. 


Departmental  Divisions  65 

school  institutes  was  considered  a  part  of  the  service  of  each 
superintendent  and  missionary. 

It  was  generally  acknowledged  that  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  the  Uniform  Lessons  marked  an  advance  in  Sunday- 
school  instruction.  Nevertheless,  there  was  a  growing  convic- 
tion among  rehgious  educators  that  a  more  scientific  method 
for  Sunday-school  courses  and  organization  was  called  for. 

The  matter  of  an  advance  in  Sunday-school  instruction  was 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  denomination  at  the  National 
Council  in  Syracuse  in  1895.  At  the  meeting  of  the  National 
Council  at  Portland,  Maine,  in  1901,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed "  to  secure,  in  connection  with  the  Congregational 
Sunday-School  and  Pubhshing  Society,  better  Sunday-school 
instruction,"  and  at  Cleveland  in  1907  it  was  unanimously 
voted  to  endorse  the  purpose  of  the  directors  "  to  enlarge  and 
organize  the  educational  work  of  the  Society  and  to  secure 
and  disburse  funds  for  that  special  purpose."  This  action 
and  that  of  various  state  conferences,  and  requests  from  many 
churches,  led  the  society  to  devise  plans  for  greater  educa- 
tional emphasis.  In  1911  Rev.  B.  S.  Winchester  became 
educational  secretary  in  connection  with  his  duties  as  editor. 
In  addition  to  four  district  educational  secretaries,  Miss 
Margaret  Slattery  was  secured  for  special  service. 

Assistance  for  institute  work  was  given  by  Prof.  Edward  P. 
St.  John  of  the  Hartford  School  of  Rehgious  Pedagogy,  Miss 
Frances  W.  Danielson,  Miss  Frederica  Beard,  and  others. 
Courses  of  study  and  standards  for  Sunday-school  methods 
were  devised  and  commended  to  the  churches.  This  plan 
contemplated  the  improvement  of  the  literary  output,  and  the 
securing  of  the  best  educational  methods  by  close  co-operation 
of  the  editorial,  business,  and  the  missionary  and  extension 
departments. 

The  five  years'  service  of  Dr.  Winchester  did  much  to  put 
an  educational  impress  upon  the  work  of  the  society. 


Chapter  VIII 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS  AND  DIRECTORS 

The  Sunday-School  Society,  during  its  eighty-five  years,  has 
been  served  by  ten  secretaries.  Most  of  the  time  there  has 
been  but  one,  and  only  for  short  periods  have  there  been 
associate  secretaries  for  different  departments.  These  offi- 
cers have  been  closely  associated  with  every  department  of 
the  work,  and  their  service,  as  far  as  can  be  recorded,  is  found 
in  the  regular  narrative. 

The  Presidents 

The  society  has  been  fortunate  in  the  character  and  ability 
of  its  presidents.  Many  of  them  served  for  long  terms,  and 
with  distinction.  During  the  first  sixty-seven  years  the 
presidents  were  laymen.  The  first,  Hon.  William  Reed  of 
Marblehead,  showed  his  deep  interest  in  Sunday-schools  as 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union  during 
the  seven  years  of  its  history.  His  fitness  for  the  task  seemed 
so  apparent  that,  although  the  society  was  union,  he,  a  Con- 
gregationalist,  was  reelected  each  year.  With  the  forming  of 
the  Congregational  society  he  was  selected  for  the  presidency, 
and  served  for  five  years  until  his  death  in  1837.  Mr.  Reed 
was  succeeded  by  Alfred  D.  Foster,  Esq.,  for  one  year  and 
was  followed  by  Hon.  Samuel  T.  Armstrong,  who  served 
successfully  for  twelve  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Hon. 
Samuel  H.  Walley,  a  most  devoted  friend  of  Sunday-school 
work,  who  gave  time  and  ability  to  the  presidency  for  eighteen 
years,  having  previously  served  thirteen  years  as  director. 

During  the  next  ten  years  Hon.  Charles  Theodore  Russell 
of  Cambridge,  prominent  and  successful  in  all  good  work, 
served  with  devotion  and  ability  until  his  death.     For  the 

66 


Executive  Officers  and  Directors  67 

next  few  years  the  presidency  was  filled  by  J.  Russell  Brad- 
ford, Ezra  Farnsworth  and  Samuel  Johnson,  all  distinguished 
business  men. 

When  the  readjustment  of  the  society  took  place,  in  1882, 
the  choice  of  a  president  was  felt  to  be  of  great  importance. 
There  is  clear  indication  of  divine  guidance  in  the  selection  of 
Samuel  B.  Capen,  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  active  of  Bos- 
ton's laymen.  He  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  hfe  of  the 
society  in  all  its  departments,  giving  generously  of  his  energy 
and  abihty  in  applying  the  best  business  methods  to  the  pub- 
hshing  department,  and  entering  with  devotion  and  enthusiasm 
into  the  missionary  work,  which  had  recently  been  restored. 
He  was  dehghted  to  meet  any  superintendent  or  missionary 
who  visited  headquarters,  and  when  on  business  trips  or 
attending  Congregational  gatherings,  became  acquainted  with 
workers,  their  fields  and  their  problems,  and  always  imparted 
encouragement  and  inspiration. 

For  seventeen  years  Mr,  Capen  gave  most  valuable  service 
as  president,  and  in  the  following  fourteen  years,  as  vice- 
president,  was  ever  ready  by  voice,  pen  and  counsel,  to  for- 
ward the  interests  of  the  society  in  its  missionary,  educational, 
and  business  enterprises. 

On  the  election  of  Dr.  Capen  as  president  of  the  American 
Board,  Rev.  Willard  Scott,  D.D.,  who,  representing  the  Chi- 
cago District,  had  been  vice-president,  was  elected  president, 
and  served  for  nine  years.  On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Scott, 
Dr.  Henry  Churchill  King  of  Oberhn  was  president  for  two 
years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Frederick  H.  Page,  who 
had  served  on  the  board  of  directors  for  eight  years.  Mr. 
Page's  familiarity  with  every  phase  of  the  work  of  the  Society, 
his  devotion  to  it,  and  his  generous  contribution  of  time  to  its 
interest  made  his  presidency  an  important  factor  in  the  ever- 
widening  work  committed  to  its  care. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  National  Council  of  Congregational 
Churches  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  1915,  when  control  of  the 


68  '   The  Sunday -School  Century 

Society  passed  to  that  body,  Rev.  Clarence  F.  Swift,  D.D., 
who  had  been  active  as  a  director  for  eight  years,  was  elected 
president.  Dr.  Swift,  being  widely  acquainted  with  the  work 
of  the  Society,  east  and  west,  and  deeply  interested  in  its 
extension  and  educational  departments,  has  rendered  valua- 
ble service  by  his  wise,  sympathetic  counsel  and  leadership. 

Board  of  Directors 

The  Sabbath-School  Society  and  the  Board  of  Pubhcation 
have  had  men  of  rare  ability  and  devotion,  who  gave  unspar- 
ingly of  their  time  and  means,  as  managers  or  directors. 
On  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Sunday-School  Society, 
eighty-four  laymen  have  served.  In  the  company  of  devoted 
laymen,  Alpheus  Hardy,  the  well-known  Christian  philan- 
thropist, was  a  member  for  fourteen  years;  Moses  L.  Hale, 
thirty-four;  Charles  Kimball,  forty-one;  Charles  Scudder, 
nineteen;  and  many  others,  who  were  honored  in  the  business 
world  and  by  the  churches,  served  for  long  periods. 

Among  the  ministers.  Dr.  John  A.  Albro,  of  the  First  Church 
of  Cambridge,  was  a  member  for  twenty-six  years;  Dr. 
Alonzo  Quint,  twenty;  Dr.  S.  C.  Herrick,  of  Mount  Vernon 
Church,  eleven,  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Wellman,  thirty-three. 

The  longest  term  is  that  of  Rev.  B.  F.  Hamilton,  D.D.,  who 
was  elected  in  1873,  and  served  continuously  as  an  active 
member  until  1908.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  faithful  as  an 
honorary  member  of  the  board,  thus  rendering  a  service  of 
rare  wisdom  and  devotion  for  forty-five  years.  Dr.  Hamilton 
was  ever  ready  to  work  and  speak  for  the  society,  keeping 
young  in  heart  because  of  his  great  love  for  the  youth  of 
the  land,  to  whom  he  believes  the  organization  brings  rich 
blessings. 

A  strong  company  of  ministers  and  laymen  served  the 
society  as  directors  for  the  interior  at  Chicago,  Among  these 
were  Rev.  G.  S.  F.  Savage,  D.D.,  Rev.  E.  P.  Goodwin,  D.  D., 


Executive  Officers  and  Directors  69 

Rev.  E.  F.  Williams,  D.D.,  and  Mr.  I.  N.  Camp,  Mr.  O.  B. 
Taft,  Mr.  G.  H.  Case,  Gen.  J.  B.  Leake,  Mr.  R.  E.  Jenkins, 
Mr.  E.  W.  Lyman  and  others,  who  gave  the  work  much  time 
and  consideration. 

Treasurers 

The  first  treasurer  was  Mr.  Charles  Scudder,  who  served 
for  ten  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  C.  C.  Dean,  as  agent 
and  treasurer  for  twelve  years.  After  his  death  Mr.  Moses  H. 
Sargent  served  for  twenty-three  years,  until  1877.  At  this 
time  the  offices  of  agent  and  treasurer  were  separated,  and  Mr. 
Edward  Gay  served  for  three  years,  to  be  succeeded  in  1881 
by  Mr.  E.  Lawrence  Barnard  for  sixteen  years,  followed  by 
Mr.  Charles  F.  Wyman  for  two  years.  Then  the  secretary  of 
the  society.  Rev.  George  M.  Boynton,  D.D.,  was  also  made 
treasurer,  and  served  for  six  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr, 
J.  H.  Tewksbury,  the  business  manager,  until  his  retirement 
in  1906.  Mr.  Phineas  Hubbard  held  the  office  for  one  term, 
and  was  succeeded  in  1907  by  Henry  T.  Richardson,  Esq.,  who 
faithfully  served  for  eight  years.  He  was  succeeded  in  1915 
by  Mr.  Samuel  F.  Wilkins. 

The  treasurers  for  forty-five  years  served  at  a  nominal 
salary,  giving  large  amounts  of  time  and  business  abihty  with- 
out compensation. 


Chapter  IX 
FINANCING  THE  SOCIETY 

When  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  was 
organized,  its  object  was  wholly  for  the  extension  and  im- 
provement of  Sunday-school  work,  with  little  thought  of 
extensive  publications.  It  was  sustained  by  hfe  membership 
fees,  contributions  from  individuals  and  Sunday-schools,  but 
for  some  time  churches  did  not  contribute  to  any  extent. 
The  other  branch,  The  Congregational  Board  of  Pubhcation, 
devoted  its  efforts  to  issuing  doctrinal  works  deemed  essential 
for  the  welfare  of  the  churches,  prepared  especially  for  minis- 
ters and  missionaries.  In  both  organizations  the  pubhshing 
was  considered  a  pure  benevolence,  and  when  literature  was 
sold,  the  proceeds  were  used  to  augment  the  funds  for  benevo- 
lent purposes. 

When  the  society  was  reorganized,  in  1882,  a  new  impulse 
was  given  to  the  publishing  interests,  and  funds  were  solicited 
for  providing  necessary  capital.  Since  that  time  no  appeal 
has  been  made  by  the  business  department,  but  the  capital 
has  been  augmented  by  modest  profits,  and  all  donations  have 
been  devoted  to  the  missionary,  extension,  and  educational 
work.  When  the  schools  became  loyal  to  their  society,  its 
business  department  was  able  to  furnish  a  literature  unsur- 
passed by  any,  and  in  turn  to  give  aid  to  the  missionary, 
extension  and  education  departments. 

Grants  from  the  Business  Department 

In  1867  the  business  department  made  an  appropriation  of 
$5,000  toward  the  missionary  work.  On  account  of  uncer- 
tainty and  reorganization,  the  business  department  was  not 
able   to    make    any  further  appropriation  until  1890,  when 

70 


Financing  the  Society  71 

$2,500  was  contributed.  Since  that  time,  with  the  exception  of 
the  years  1898  and  1907,  until  1916,  annual  appropriations 
were  made  in  sums  varying  from  $2,500  to  $7,500,  aggregating 
$117,316.44. 

Individual  Gifts 

From  the  beginning,  Sunday-school  work  aroused  a  pecu- 
har  interest  on  the  part  of  generous  men  and  women.  The 
early  history  of  the  society  reveals  many  instances  of  rare  and 
touching  devotion.  When  the  society  was  reorganized,  some 
of  the  strongest  men  in  the  denomination  came  to  its  support 
by  personal  gifts,  and  others  aroused  their  churches  for  spe- 
cial effort.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  M.  T.  Dill, 
of  Wisconsin;  Dea.  H.  E.  Ranney,  of  New  York;  Mr.  E.  K. 
Warren,  of  Michigan;  Samuel  B.  Capen,  Mr.  J.  J.  Arakelyan, 
the  Whitin  brothers  of  Massachusetts;  and  many  other 
generous  givers  of  money  and  personal  interest. 

Anonymous  donors  of  amounts  large  and  small  have  been 
numerous.  A  modest  layman  supported  a  co-worker  on  the 
field,  with  whom  he  corresponded,  without  allowing  his  name 
to  be  published.  Another  called  at  the  office,  and,  stating 
that  he  wished  to  leave  a  small  gift  because  of  his  interest  in 
the  work,  laid  down  a  sealed  envelope  which  contained  several 
hundred  dollars,  but  before  any  clue  to  his  identity  could  be 
obtained,  the  stranger  had  vanished.  Another  sent  $6,000, 
but  in  such  a  way  that  his  name  should  not  appear. 

Equally  worthy  are  a  host  with  more  modest  means.  A 
widow  in  Michigan  sent  for  many  years,  with  love  and  prayers, 
three  dollars  each  quarter.  A  veteran  minister  in  Oregon, 
past  four-score  years,  sent  his  monthly  gifts  regularly  for  a 
period  of  years. 

A  number  of  churches  have  taken  special  responsibility  in 
supporting  workers  on  the  field.  The  Old  South  of  Boston 
and  the  Second  Church  of  Holyoke  each  provided  for  years 
the  support  of  a  worker.     Many  others  have  a  share  in  some 


72  The  Sunday-School  Century 

specific  field.     Large  numbers  pay  the  expense  of  starting  a 
new  school  which  they  maintain  at  least  a  year. 

Women's  Societies 

The  society  has  had  the  generous  cooperation  of  the  Women's 
Home  Missionary  Unions.  The  Woman's  Home  Missionary 
Association  of  IMassachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  the  Unions 
of  Illinois,  Minnesota,  New  York,  Ohio,  Connecticut,  and 
Vermont  have  all  had  a  share  in  the  support  of  one  or  more 
workers  in  different  fields,  with  whom  helpful  and  happy 
correspondence  has  been  maintained.  Other  Women's  Home 
Missionary  Unions  in  different  states  have  helped  generously. 

Legacies 

During  the  early  years,  the  society  was  not  aided  by  be- 
quests. Its  first  legacy  was  five  hundred  dollars,  received  in 
1881  from  the  estate  of  Peter  Smith,  of  Andover,  Massachu- 
setts. Since  the  reorganization,  when  the  future  of  the  society 
seemed  assured,  legacies  have  steadily  increased.  The  first 
large  gift  from  this  source  was  that  of  the  Joseph  H.  Stickney 
estate,  of  Baltimore,  in  1895,  amounting  to  S20,000.  Many 
small  bequests  have  been  made  by  those  who  have  been  inti- 
mately associated  with  the  society,  some  designated  for  in- 
creasing the  permanent  funds,  and  others  for  the  current 
work.  Mrs.  Vilroy  C.  Lord,  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
made  the  Sunday-School  Society,  together  with  the  American 
Board  and  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary  Society,  on 
equal  terms,  residuary  legatees.  The  share  of  the  Sunday- 
School  Society  from  this  estate  amounted  to  about  818,000. 
Miss  Philomela  A.  Wilhams,  of  South  Deerfield,  Massachu- 
setts, made  a  similar  bequest  which  resulted  in  about  an 
equal  amount.  The  late  Samuel  T.  Johnson,  of  Syracuse, 
New  York,  made  provision  in  his  will  for  the  largest  amount 
yet  bequeathed  to  the  society.     A  goodly  number  have  inti- 


Financing  the  Society  73 

mated  that  the  society  is  remembered  in  their  wills.  There  is 
every  prospect  that  with  favorable  conditions  the  income  from 
this  source  will  constantly  increase. 

It  was  found  expedient,  for  the  purpose  of  equahzing,  that 
there  should  be  a  Legacy  Fund,  to  which  the  gifts  of  each 
year  should  be  added  and  a  third  of  the  total  amount  ap- 
propriated for  the  year.  The  average  amount  available  for 
three  years  up  to  1914  was  S5,597.69;  the  average  for  the  next 
three  years  was  $13,677.61.  The  equahzing  legacy  fund  has 
furnished  means  for  tiding  over  the  "  dry  months  "  without 
paying  large  sums  for  interest,  and  the  three  year  plan  has 
been  strictly  adhered  to. 

Annuity  Gifts 

An  annuity  account  was  estabhshed  by  which  those  who 
donated  certain  sums  received  an  annuity  during  their  life 
time  or  that  of  those  who  might  be  designated.  These  funds 
have  been  kept  apart  from  others  while  subject  to  the  annuity, 
and  when  released  have  been  placed  in  the  legacy  account. 
The  annuities  have  always  been  paid  with  promptness  and  the 
annuitants  have  found  much  satisfaction  in  this  form  of  gift. 

Permanent  Funds 

The  first  fund  given  to  the  society  to  be  held  permanently 
was  S5,000  in  1870,  to  be  known  as  the  Christian  Knowledge 
Fund,  the  income  to  be  used  in  circulating  literature.  In 
recognition  of  the  long  and  devoted  service  of  the  Rev.  Asa 
Bullard,  the  Congregational  Superintendents'  Union  of  Boston 
resolved  to  establish  a  fund  which  would  commemorate  his 
memory  and  provide  in  large  measure  for  the  support  of  a 
field  worker.  This  amount  has  been  added  to  the  permanent 
funds,  and  the  income  is  used  for  the  support  of  the  Asa  Bul- 
lard Missionary.  The  permanent  funds  now  amount  to 
about  S55,000,  and  are  still  being  added  to  by  special  gifts  or 


74  The  Sunday-School  Century 

bequests.  The  income  from  this  fund  helps  to  give  stability, 
and  aids  in  tiding  over  the  months  and  years  when  the  income 
is  below  normal.  This  permanent  fund  is  kept  entirely 
separate  from  all  other  funds  and  has  never  been  used,  even 
in  security  for  loans,  but  gives  business  standing  and  confi- 
dence in  the  conduct  of  the  society. 

Financial  Growth 

The  gifts  the  first  year  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath- 
School  Society  were  $768  from  life  members,  and  $411  do- 
nated for  work  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  a  total  of  $1,179. 
This  amount  increased  until  1873,  when  it  reached  $12,224. 
The  work  was  then  transferred,  and  the  contributions  three 
years  later  were  $1,461.  After  the  society  was  reorganized 
the  donations  steadily  increased.  The  income  for  benevolent 
purposes  in  1885  amounted  to  $25,255;  in  1895,  $64,566; 
in  1905,  $71,903;  in  1915,  $85,632.  The  amount  of  $100,000 
in  direct  gifts  annually  was  recommended  by  the  National 
Council  and  reaffirmed  at  several  sessions. 


Chapter  X 
CHILDREN'S    DAY 

The  germs  of  Children's  Day  can  be  found  much  earHer 
than  the  date  assigned  for  its  general  observance.  Many 
churches  had  special  occasions  in  recognition  of  the  rights  of 
childhood  in  the  church,  even  before  the  days  of  the  modern 
Sunday-schools,  but  the  organization  of  Sunday-schools  gave 
a  new  meaning  to  such  occasions. 

It  is  impossible  to  determine  how  or  when  the  definite 
modern  observance  of  Children's  Day  originated.  Inde- 
pendence Day,  observed  for  some  years  in  Sunday-schools, 
beginning  about  1846,  was  in  some  respects  a  forerunner. 
Among  the  founders  of  the  modern  observance  was  Rev. 
Richard  S.  Storrs,  D.D.,  of  Brooklyn.  In  the  New  York 
Observer  is  found  a  description  of  the  observance  in  the  Church 
of  the  Pilgrims:  "  Dr.  Storrs  stood  by  the  communion  table, 
on  which  lay  a  piled-up  heap  of  flowers,  flanked  by  Kttle  white 
packages,  tied  with  dainty  ribbons.  Calling  by  name  each 
child  of  the  church  who  had  reached  the  age  of  seven  years, 
the  pastor  presented  each  one  with  a  kiss,  a  bouquet  of  flowers, 
and  a  well-bound  Oxford  Bible,  inscribed  with  the  date  of  the 
child's  birth  and  the  date  of  presentation,  and  the  pastor's 
signature." 

The  pastor  of  the  Kirk  Street  Church  of  Lowell,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1870  arranged  an  interesting  program  for  children, 
called  The  Rose  of  Sharon.  The  day  continued  to  be  observed 
in  this  church  and  attracted  attention.  In  different  places 
the  observance  received  such  designations  as  Rose  Sunday, 
Christening  Sunday,  Children's  Sunday,  or  Children's  Day. 

The  custom  became  common  in  Congregational  churches, 
and  in  1883  the  National  Council  and  nearly  all  the  state 

75 


76  The  Sunday-School  Century 

bodies  of  the  denomination  passed  resolutions  commending 
the  observance  of  Children's  Day,  the  second  Sunday  of 
June,  and  recommending  that  offerings  be  taken  at  that  time 
for  The  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  So- 
ciety for  the  extension  of  Sunday-school  work. 

In  1885  Children's  Day  material  was  furnished  as  a  help 
toward  a  fitting  observance  of  the  day,  and  offerings  of  con- 
siderable amounts  were  received.  The  first  complete  service 
was  issued  in  1886,  entitled  Jesus,  the  Good  Shepherd.  Since 
that  time  services  of  high  order  have  been  provided  each  year, 
such  as  The  Children  and  the  Kingdom,  The  Child  in  the 
Temple,  My  Country,  The  Child  in  the  Midst,  The  Child 
in  the  Church,  Temple  Praises,  America,  Our  Comrades, 
Agomen,  True  Patriots,  The  Children  and  the  Flowers,  The 
Children  and  the  Church,  The  First  Children's  Day, 
The  Church  of  To-day  and  the  Church  of  Tomorrow, 
Forward,  Children  at  Home,  Young  Crusaders,  and  Chil- 
dren of  the  Pilgrims. 

These  services  have  contained  choice  music  and  gems  of 
literature  suitable  for  interesting  young  and  old  in  the  child- 
life  of  the  home  church,  and  also  for  arousing  an  intelligent 
interest  in  reaching  the  children  and  youth  in  new  and  needy 
parts  of  our  country  and  other  lands.  The  services  have 
been  called  for  in  large  numbers,  and  usually  over  100,000 
have  been  furnished  each  year  free  of  cost  to  all  the  Sunday- 
schools  and  churches  agreeing  to  take  an  offering  on  Children's 
Day  for  the  missionary,  extension  and  educational  work  of 
the  Sunday-School  Society.  The  offerings  on  Children's 
Day  the  first  year  were  $3,402,  and  increased  until  they 
amounted  to  as  much  as  $25,000  in  a  single  year.  When  the  day 
was  first  observed,  a  large  number  of  churches  made  their  only 
offering  in  connection  with  the  Sunday-school  on  Children's 
Day,  and  the  gifts  were  subject  to  the  popularity  of  the  ser- 
vice, weather,  or  other  conditions.  With  the  adoption  of  the 
apportionment  plan,  less  stress  was  placed  upon  the  offering; 


Children's  Day  77 

but  the  day  still  furnished  an  excellent  opportunity  for 
interesting  a  very  large  number  in  the  joyful  work  of  giving 
the  benefits  of  the  Sunday-school  to  children  and  young  people, 
especially  in  new  and  needy  places.  Hence,  the  offering  of 
Children's  Day  still  has  an  honored  place,  and  perhaps  no 
other  society  of  the  denomination  has  had  so  numerous  a 
constituency.  Nearly  500,000  Httle  Children's  Day  envelopes 
have  been  used  annually. 

The  day  is  observed  in  the  most  primitive  communities  on 
the  frontier,  and  in  the  most  influential  churches  of  the  city. 
No  institution  inaugurated  by  the  denomination  has  so  largely 
bound  the  churches  and  Sunday-schools  in  one  common  cause 
at  the  same  time. 

The  prominent  features  have  been  the  baptism  of  children, 
the  presentation  of  Bibles  to  those  who  have  reached  the  age 
of  seven  during  the  year,  and  exercises  by  the  children,  either 
individually  or  as  classes,  or  departments.  Children's  Day 
has  been  of  great  value  in  deepening  the  love  of  the  children 
for  the  church,  and  the  love  of  the  church  for  the  children. 
The  churches  are  made  beautiful  by  flowers  and  other  decora- 
tions, and  the  effort  is  always  made  to  have  the  day  full  of 
gladness  in  which  young  and  old  may  unite.  Exercises  by 
which  pupils  in  graded  schools  are  promoted  to  higher  de- 
partments are  frequently  used.  Much  is  made  of  music,  and 
in  this  way  the  hymnology  of  the  Sunday-schools  has  been 
improved.  An  earnest  effort  has  been  made  to  secure  the 
best  talent  in  the  preparation  of  the  services.  The  field 
workers  of  the  Sunday-School  Society  have  done  much  to 
make  the  observance  general  in  all  the  Sunday  schools  and 
churches.  One  of  the  great  benefits  has  been  the  gathering 
of  large  numbers  of  children  and  adults  who  were  strangers 
to  the  Sunday-school  and  church.  Many  of  these  have  been 
interested  and  have  become  regular  attendants.  The  institu- 
tion gives  promise  of  being  a  permanent  feature  in  the  life  of 
the  churches  of  all  denominations. 


Chapter  XI 
FOREIGN  WORK 
Abroad 

Among  the  early  objects  of  benevolence  of  the  American 
Doctrinal  Tract  Society  were  gifts  of  books  for  the  use  of  the 
missionaries  in  foreign  lands.  In  1834,  one  hundred  bound 
volumes  were  presented  to  the  American  Board,  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  its  missionaries.  When  the  two  Societies 
united,  forming  The  Congregational  Sabbath-School  and 
PubHshing  Society,  aid  was  continued  as  occasion  and  re- 
sources warranted. 

With  the  development  of  the  Sunday-school  work  in  the 
fields  of  the  American  Board,  a  goodly  number  of  these  schools 
were  provided  with  literature.  Most  of  the  churches  were 
poor,  and  grants  were  made  to  them  in  the  same  way  that 
mission  schools  are  aided  in  the  homeland.  In  the  year  1914 
there  were  ninety-one  grants  made  in  foreign  lands  to  fifty- 
one  different  schools.  Disaster  caused  by  the  World  War  has 
interfered  with  the  work,  but  it  is  expected  that  when  peace 
is  restored,  the  opportunities  for  co-operation  and  assistance 
will  be  greater  than  ever  before.  Modern  Sunday-school 
methods  are  being  adopted,  and  the  workers  in  foreign  fields 
are  anxious  for  the  most  improved  plans  and  the  best  litera- 
ture. The  society  has  been  able  to  assist  by  sending  samples 
of  its  lesson  material,  from  which  translations  have  been  made, 
and  advance  copy  has  also  been  furnished,  to  assist  in  issuing 
up-to-date  quarterlies. 

A  grant  was  made  for  a  number  of  years  for  printing  Po- 
mucka,  a  Bohemian  lesson  paper  at  Prague,  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  missionaries  of  the  American  Board.  During  the  year 
1894,  Dr.  W.  A.  Duncan,  the  field  secretary,  found  such 
eagerness  in  the  city  of  Rome  for  illustrated  Sunday-school 

78 


Foreign  Work  79 

papers,  that  aid  was  given  by  which  L'Amico  dei  Fanciulli 
was  sent  to  about  four  thousand  ItaHan  children. 

Delegations  visiting  the  stations  of  the  American  Board 
have  made  mention  of  the  value  of  the  help  furnished  them. 
When  the  delegation  of  1913  made  its  itinerary,  including 
India,  China,  and  Japan,  Pres.  Samuel  B.  Capen,  one  of  the 
vice-presidents  of  the  Sunday-School  Society,  and  Secretary 
W.  E.  Strong  of  the  American  Board  were  requested  to  act  as 
a  committee  to  report  on  the  work  that  was  being  done  and 
willingly  accepted  the  commission.  To  the  great  sorrow  of 
all  Dr.  Capen  passed  away  while  on  the  journey.  Dr.  Strong 
reported  the  appreciation  of  the  missions  for  the  past  and 
present  grants  of  hterature,  and  the  co-operation  of  the  society 
in  the  work  of  the  Board.  It  seems  very  probable  that  the 
advance  of  Sunday-school  work  in  foreign  fields  may  be  even 
as  far-reaching  in  its  results  as  in  our  own  land. 

At  Home 

The  workers  of  the  society  have  always  been  interested 
in  reaching  foreign  peoples.  This  has  been  done  mostly 
through  the  regular  Sunday-school  work,  in  which  literature 
in  the  English  language  is  used.  A  large  service,  however, 
has  also  been  rendered  by  providing  literature  in  different 
languages.  In  1884  there  was  an  earnest  call  for  literature 
to  explain  Congregational  principles  in  the  German  language. 
To  meet  this  need,  a  manual  and  a  catechism  were  printed, 
and  the  manual  was  also  translated  into  Swedish. 

In  1888  the  society  assisted  in  the  publication  of  two  Ger- 
man papers,  Der  Kirchenbote  (The  Church  Messenger)  and 
Die  Segensquelle  (The  Spring  of  Blessing).  In  1889  the  two 
German  and  a  Bohemian  paper  were  aided,  also  a  French 
paper,  Le  Citoyen  Franco-Americain, 

Aid  was  continued  to  these  and  other  papers,  and  in  1892-3 
the  following  were  assisted:    German,  Der  Kirchenbote,  and 


80  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Die  Segensquelle;  Bohemian,  Pravda;  Danish-Norwegian, 
Evangelisten;  French,  Le  Citoyen  Franco-Americain;  ItaHan, 
La  Tromba  EvangeUca  and  L'Amico  dei  Fanciulh;  Holland, 
De  Evangeliebode.  These  were  widely  circulated  in  our 
country  and  to  some  extent  in  the  lands  from  which  the 
different  peoples  had  come.  French,  Italian,  Swedish  and 
Greek  papers,  published  in  New  England  since  that  time,  have 
received  assistance  at  different  periods,  both  for  their  publica- 
tion and  circulation. 

To  be  helpful  to  our  brethren  who  have  come  from  other 
lands,  workers  have  been  selected  who  could  speak  different 
languages.  Mr.  Soderquist  worked  among  the  Swedish 
people  in  Minnesota,  followed  in  that  state  by  Rev.  J.  F. 
Okerstein,  and  Rev.  L.  A.  Sahlstrom  did  a  similar  work  among 
the  Swedes  in  North  Dakota.  In  1907  Rev.  Herman  Sell 
was  elected  superintendent  for  German  work  in  North  Dakota 
and  the  northwestern  states,  where  he  has  rendered  a  valuable 
service.  He  has  also  been  helpful  to  the  German  settlers  in 
the  Canadian  Northwest. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Schwabenland  did  a  good  work  in  Oregon,  Wash- 
ington, and  Idaho,  especially  in  bringing  the  German  and 
English  people  into  sympathetic  and  helpful  co-operation. 
He  afterwards  labored  in  Colorado  and  adjoining  states,  and 
was  esteemed  by  both  Germans  and  Americans. 

Miss  Anna  Keranen  and  Rev.  Wilhelm  Leeman  labored  with 
encouraging  results  among  Finnish  people  of  New  Hampshire 
and  northern  New  England. 

Superintendent  H.  P.  Case  of  southern  California  acquired 
a  working  knowledge  of  the  Spanish  language  that  he  might 
interest  Spanish  and  Mexican  peoples,  of  whom  there  are 
vast  numbers  in  his  field.  Other  field  workers  have  followed 
a  similar  course  in  reaching  those  of  different  nationalities. 

The  largest  work,  however,  among  foreign  peoples  is  being 
done  by  strong  men  of  broad  vision  and  wide  sympathies 
who,  by  personal  effort  and  through  the  Sunday-schools,  are 


Foreign  Work  81 

winning  especially  the  children  and  youth  of  dijEferent  lands 
irrespective  of  creed  or  nationality.  American  workers  and 
American  Hterature  have  provided  the  best  permanent  means 
for  helping  fellow  citizens  from  other  lands.  For  a  long  time, 
however,  the  employment  of  foreign  speaking  missionaries 
will  need  to  be  continued.  There  are  clear  indications  that 
the  preparation  and  circulation  of  literature  in  different 
languages  should  be  greatly  enlarged. 


Chapter  XII 
STATE  DEVELOPMENT 

The  nation-wide  work  of  the  Sunday-School  Society  was 
one  of  the  influences  which  helped  to  develop  a  denomina- 
tional consciousness.  Responsibihty  was  left,  as  largely  as 
possible,  in  the  states  with  which  the  society  co-operated; 
but,  for  the  sake  of  economy  and  efficiency,  common  interests 
were  bound  together  in  a  national  organization. 

The  movements  which  led  to  the  reorganization  of  the 
Society  in  1882  began  simultaneously  in  many  states.  Rev. 
A.  E.  Dunning,  as  secretary,  solicited  the  appointment  of 
cooperating  state  committees.  Almost  invariably  these 
committees  asked  for  the  appointment  of  state  superin- 
tendents, and  these  were  selected  in  consultation  with  the 
representatives  of  state  conferences  and  associations.  The 
state  representatives  shared  the  responsibility  for  the  direc- 
tion and  support  of  the  work.  National  officers  aided  irrespec- 
tive of  state  boundaries,  and,  in  the  interest  of  economy, 
districts  were  sometimes  made  by  grouping  small,  or  Con- 
gregationally  weak,  states  into  one  field,  or  dividing  a  state 
or  territory  when  found  expedient.  Hence,  it  is  difficult  to 
give  with  absolute  accuracy  the  statistical  record  of  each 
separate  state.  It  is,  however,  of  interest  to  trace  the  de- 
velopment, as  far  as  possible,  according  to  state  lines. 

NEW  ENGLAND 

Massachusetts 

The  earliest  Sunday-school  effort  in  which  Congregational- 
ists,  in  any  united  way,  were  engaged  was  in  Massachusetts. 
This  was  continued  through  the  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral 

82 


Eastern  Representatives 
Rev.  GABRIEL  H.  DeBEVOISE  Captain  GEORGE  W.  LANE 

WILLIAM  A.  DUNCAN,  Ph.D. 
Rev.  FRANCIS  J.  MARSH  Rev.  ARTHUR  W.  BAILEY 


State  Development  33 

and  Religious  Instruction  of  the  Poor,  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union,  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union 
sustained  by  Congregationahsts  and  Baptists,  and  then  by 
the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society.  This  society 
by  steady  natural  growth  became  national,  although  it  re- 
tamed  Its  state  name  until  1868.  During  that  period  the 
history  of  the  state  organization,  to  a  large  extent,  is  identical 
with  that  of  the  national  society.  Among  the  earliest  workers 
were  theological  students  of  Andover  Seminary,  who  as  Sun- 
day-school missionaries,  in  the  early  days  did  much  for 
destitute  communities.  To  these  and  to  more  favored  places 
also  they  brought  high  ideals  and  the  best  methods  of  religious 
education  of  their  time  and  rendered  an  important  service 
to  the  commonwealth. 

The  agents  and  secretaries  of  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath- 
School  Society,  such  as  Rev.  Christopher  Marsh  and  Rev 
Asa  Bullard,  Mr.  C.  C.  Dean,  and  all  connected  with  the 
society,  gave  generously  of  their  time  and  effort  to  strengthen 
and  improve  the  work  in  the  state.  The  early  annual  meet- 
ings were  important  events,  and  greatly  stimulated  interest. 

With  the  reorganization  of  the  society  in  1882,  Massachu- 
setts gave  generous  financial  support  for  the  missionary  and 
extension  work,  and  in  addition  contributed  about  $20  000 
to  mcrease  the  capital  of  the  business  department,  making  it 
possible  to  improve  its  Sunday-school  hterature. 

The  Congregational  Association  of  Massachusetts  heartily 
co-operated  and  asked  for  the  employment  of  a  Sunday-school 
worker,  and  nominated  Rev.  G.  H.  DeBevoise,  who  was 
elected  m  September,  1884,  and  did  much  in  a  short  term  of 
service  for  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  state,  and  increased  the 
gifts  for  the  national  work. 

In  1893  Rev.  Francis  J.  Marsh  was  elected  New  England 
Secretary.  During  the  twelve  years  in  which  he  labored  there 
were  few  of  the  churches  of  Massachusetts  that  were  not  en- 
couraged and  helped  by  the  personal  visits   and   correspon- 


84  The  Sunday-School  Century 

dence  of  Mr.  Marsh.  He  labored  to  improve  and  enlarge  the 
Sunday-school  work  of  all  the  churches  in  his  district,  while 
stimulating  gifts  for  extending  it  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Rev.  Silas  P.  Cook,  in  connection  with  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  devoted  a  part  of  his  time  for  nine  years  to  the 
Sunday-School  Society.  Miss  Zillah  Grant,  Miss  Martha 
Nichols,  and  Miss  Grace  E.  Stanley  were  employed  in  different 
years,  largely  in  connection  with  special  missionary  Sunday- 
school  enterprises  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 

The  national  secretaries,  Rev.  Albert  E.  Dunning,  Rev. 
George  M.  Boynton,  Rev.  Frank  K.  Sanders,  Rev.  William 
Ewing,  and  Rev.  B.  S.  Winchester,  also  Miss  Margaret 
Slattery,  and  the  editors  and  their  associates,  Dr.  M.  C. 
Hazard,  Mr.  0.  A.  Brand,  Dr.  S.  A.  Weston,  the  business 
managers  and  their  assistants,  while  having  interests  which 
were  nation-wide,  have  done  as  much  as  possible  to  aid  the 
schools  near  at  hand. 

Since  1889  sixty-six  Sunday-schools  have  been  organized  in 
Massachusetts  by  the  aid  of  the  society,  and  1,616  grants  of 
hterature  made,  at  a  cost  of  $6,906.17.  For  these  grants  of 
Uterature  and  missionary  service  in  the  state,  $20,869.52 
were  expended.  There  were  generous  gifts  for  the  missionary 
and  also  the  business  department  of  the  society  previous  to 
1889.  Since  that  time  there  have  been  contributed  $482,- 
910.71  for  the  state  and  national  work,  besides  $81,055.24 
in  legacies.  No  state  in  the  Union  has  given  so  much  and  no 
state  has  so  fully  realized  the  truth  that  it  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive.  Its  own  Sunday-school  membership 
has  grown  from  94,977  in  1882  to  129,189  in  1916. 

Connecticut 

The  churches  of  Connecticut  very  early  became  auxiliary 
to  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  developing  the  national  Sunday-school  work. 


State  Development  85 

They  welcomed  the  representatives  of  the  Society,  and  when 
superintendents  were  employed  in  the  West,  gladly  received 
their  visits  to  the  East.  They  were  stimulated  in  their  own 
work  by  the  thrilling  messages  which  were  given,  and  in  turn 
imparted  encouragement  to  the  workers  at  the  front  by  gener- 
ous gifts.  Since  the  reorganization  of  the  society,  Connecti- 
cut has  contributed  $202,004.77  in  regular  donations,  and 
$19,255.72  in  legacies. 

The  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Union  has  taken  a  deep 
interest,  and  for  many  years  made  special  appropriations 
toward  the  work  in  southern  California,  conducted  by  Superin- 
tendent H.  P.  Case,  at  a  time  when  it  was  new  and  needy. 
Appropriations  were  made  for  North  Dakota  and  other  parts 
of  the  West. 

Mr.  Marsh  in  1893,  as  New  England  superintendent,  en- 
tered heartily  into  the  Sunday-school  hfe  and  was  helpful  to 
many  of  the  schools  during  his  twelve  years  of  service. 

Rev.  F.  L.  Hall,  a  worker  in  Nebraska,  represented  the  so- 
ciety and  quickened  the  interest  of  Sunday-schools  during 
the  last  two  years  of  his  theological  course  in  Yale. 

In  1911  Rev.  W.  R.  Stewart  was  transferred  from  Vermont 
and  entered  work  under  a  special  trust  left  in  charge  of  the 
church  of  New  Canaan,  and  continued  his  connection  with  the 
Sunday-School  Society. 

The  Yale  Divinity  School,  the  Hartford  Seminary,  and  the 
Hartford  School  of  Rehgious  Pedagogy  have  been  generous 
in  their  co-operation  for  strengthening  the  educational  side  of 
the  Sunday-school  work.  Connecticut  welcomed  the  special 
educational  work  of  the  society  under  the  direction  of  Secre- 
tary Winchester.  Miss  Frances  W.  Danielson,  of  Danielson, 
one  of  his  associates,  exerted  a  wide  influence  through  the 
beginners'  and  primary  departments. 


86  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Rhode  Island 

Rhode  Island  was  one  of  the  fields  of  Sunday-school  mis- 
sionary effort  in  the  active  days  of  Asa  Bullard.  Many  of 
the  older  members  of  the  churches  can  remember  his  Sunday- 
school  addresses  and  the  literature  which  bore  the  name  of  the 
society  which  he  represented,  and  his  kindly  greetings.  The 
state  has  always  been  loyal  and  heartily  co-operated  with 
Secretary  Marsh  and  other  representatives  of  the  Society. 

Although  Rhode  Island  is  small  geographically,  it  furnishes 
a  field  for  missionary  and  extension  work.  A  representative 
of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  in  1916  stated  that  about 
one- third  of  Rhode  Island  should  have  the  field  service  of  a 
representative  of  the  Sunday-School  Society  for  a  part  of 
each  year,  and  especially  a  worker  who  understands  how  to 
reach  new  Americans,  who  furnish  more  than  one-half  the 
population  of  the  state. 

Maine 

Maine  was  among  the  earliest  New  England  states  to  or- 
ganize definitely  for  Sunday-school  extension,  Rev.  Asa  Bul- 
lard serving  as  a  Sunday-school  missionary  while  a  student  in 
the  seminary,  and  as  secretary  from  1832  to  1834.  The  work 
was  undenominational,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  time, 
but  was  largely  sustained  by  Congregational  churches. 

When  Mr.  Bullard  was  elected  to  the  Massachusetts  Sab- 
bath-School Societj^,  Maine,  as  well  as  all  other  states  where 
there  was  Congregational  work,  received  the  help  of  this 
organization.  A  helpful  cooperation  was  maintained  be- 
tween Maine  and  the  national  Congregational  Society  in  the 
different  stages  of  its  development. 

In  1887  Capt.  George  W.  Lane,  finding  great  destitution 
among  the  people  of  the  islands  and  coast,  became  a  Sunday- 
school  missionary  for  them,  making  use  of  his  gospel  boat. 
The   Alert,  which    was    provided    by    the    Sunday-School 


State  Development  87 

Society.  For  seven  years  he  carried  on  this  work,  reaching 
large  numbers,  especially  in  the  summer  season.  The  Captain 
also  during  some  of  the  winters  served  the  society  in  North 
Carolina,  of  which  state  he  was  a  native. 

Rev.  Francis  J.  Marsh,  in  the  twelve  years  of  his  secretary- 
ship, visited  helpfully  most  of  the  associations  and  many  of  the 
Sunday-schools.  Rev.  Josiah  Poeton  was  an  assistant  during 
1902-04,  and  in  1909  Rev.  J.  J.  Yost  spent  some  time  exploring, 
and  found  many  needy  places  to  which  he  gave  valuable  help. 

In  response  to  earnest  invitations,  in  1912  Rev.  Arthur  W. 
Bailey  was  elected  northern  New  England  superintendent, 
his  field  comprising  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont. 
His  work  was  largely  to  help  in  meeting  the  educational 
problems  arising  from  the  use  of  graded  literature,  and  the 
demands  for  improved  Sunday-school  methods.  In  this  service 
Mr.  Bailey  represented  the  missionary  extension  and  the  educa- 
tional departments,  by  institutes  and  conferences,  grants  of 
Hterature  to  needy  schools,  and  by  planting  new  ones  as 
opportunity  offered. 

New  Hampshire 

New  Hampshire,  like  the  other  states  of  New  England, 
received  a  large  amount  of  Sunday-school  planting  through 
the  agency  of  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  largely 
sustained  by  Congregational  gifts.  It  also  received  aid 
through  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society,  and 
the  Congregational  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society, 
sharing  the  services  of  Secretary  Marsh  and  other  representa- 
tives. 

From  1911  to  1915  Rev.  Wilhelm  Leeman,  connected  with 
the  Home  Missionary  Society,  devoted  part  of  his  time  to 
Sunday-school  work  among  the  Finnish  people.  This  in- 
teresting work  was  still  further  helped  by  the  successful  service 
of  Miss  Anna  Keranen. 

The  work  in  the  state  was  strengthened  by  the  employment 


88  The  Sunday-School  Century 

of  Supt.  Arthur  W.  Bailey.  An  active  Sunday-school  propa- 
ganda is  needed  to  meet  the  children  of  the  new  Americans 
and  to  keep  alive  the  interest  in  many  of  the  decadent  hill 
towns. 

New  Hampshire,  like  all  the  New  England  states,  has  been 
generous  in  the  support  of  the  society. 

Vermont 

The  Sunday-school  work  took  early  and  deep  root  in  the 
churches  of  the  Pilgrim  faith  in  the  Green  Mountain  state. 
It  became  a  part  of  the  regular  church  work,  and  was  earnestly 
fostered  by  pastors  and  laymen.  The  state  was  loyal  to  the 
national  Sunday-School  Society  in  its  different  stages  of 
development. 

When  Secretary  Marsh  became  New  England  Secretary 
he  found  much  that  needed  to  be  done  in  Vermont.  Rev. 
Frank  F.  Lewis  was  secured  in  connection  with  the  Domestic 
Missionary  Society  for  a  year,  in  developing  Sunday-school, 
Christian  Endeavor,  and  church  work  in  the  needy  places  in 
the  state. 

When  Secretary  Marsh  retired,  in  1905,  Rev.  Wilson  R. 
Stewart  was  appointed  in  connection  with  the  Domestic 
Missionary  Society,  to  devote  part  of  his  time  to  special 
Sunday-school  work.  For  six  years  Mr.  Stewart  stimulated 
and  encouraged  the  churches  for  larger  effort,  planted  schools 
where  needed,  and  helped  to  keep  alive  many  small  churches 
through  their  Sunday-schools  while  they  were  temporarily 
without  pastoral  oversight.  Mr.  Stewart  resigned  in  1911, 
to  accept  a  similar  position  in  Connecticut. 

The  service  of  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Bailey  found  a  ready  wel- 
come in  Vermont  and  helped  to  strengthen  the  work,  especially 
by  encouraging  improved  educational  methods. 

A  foreign  population  is  beginning  to  occupy  the  land  where 
formerly  dwelt  the  enterprising  sons  and  daughters  of  New 


State  Development  89 

England,  who  have  gone  to  wider  fields.  Many  of  the  churches 
have  been  depleted  by  this  exodus,  and  by  Sunday-school 
efforts  are  reaching  the  children  of  the  "  strangers  within 
their  gates." 

The  Vermont  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Union  has  taken 
an  active  interest  in  specific  workers  of  the  society,  and  has 
helped  generously  in  their  support. 

New  England  Contributions 

New  England  has  sent  out  a  noble  company  of  her  sons 
and  daughters  who  have  had  an  honored  share  in  the  religious 
pioneering  of  the  West,  and  has  helped  in  its  development  by 
generous  gifts.  From  1889  to  1917  New  England  contributed 
to  the  missionary  work  of  the  Society  $823,678.30  in  donations, 
and  $115,503.73  in  legacies;  a  total  of  $939,182.03.  During 
that  time  there  was  expended  $9,311.10  in  grants  of  literature 
to  aid  her  new  or  needy  schools, 

A  large  amount  of  missionary,  extension,  and  educational 
work  has  been  carried  on  by  the  national  secretaries  of  the 
Society  in  connection  with  their  other  duties.  These  and 
the  local  representatives  employed  have  had  an  important 
part  in  developing  the  Sunday-school  work  of  New  England 
and  extending  it  to  other  parts  of  the  world. 

CENTRAL  STATES 

Illinois 

IlHnois  was  among  the  states  assisted  by  The  Massachu- 
setts Sabbath-School  Union,  sustained  by  Congregationalists 
and  Baptists.  In  1831  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  was 
granted  by  that  organization  for  literature,  and  an  equal 
amount  for  the  services  of  a  worker.  When  the  Massachu- 
setts Sabbath-School   Society   was  organized  in  1832,  assis- 


90  The  Sunday-School  Century 

tance  was  continued,  principally  by  grants  of  literature  and 
visits  by  its  representatives. 

A  large  amount  of  literature  was  sent,  during  the  first 
fifty  years,  through  Chicago  agencies  or  directly  to  the  Sun- 
day-schools and  churches.  The  work  of  Dr.  Hazard,  who 
in  1883  was  made  western  secretary,  did  much  in  connection 
with  Dr.  Dunning  in  shaping  the  Congregational  Sunday- 
school  interests  for  the  Interior.  When  after  two  years  of 
efficient  service  Dr.  Hazard  was  appointed  editor  and  removed 
to  Boston,  aid  was  continued  by  literature  and  correspondence 
through  the  Boston  office  and  different  Chicago  agencies. 
As  a  result  of  earnest  requests  from  the  interior  states,  Rev. 
H.  T.  Sell,  of  Cortland,  New  York,  was  called  in  1887  to  the 
superintendency  for  IlHnois  and  Indiana.  In  1888  Indiana 
was  transferred  to  the  Ohio  field,  and  Wisconsin  united  with 
Illinois  in  sharing  the  services  of  Mr.  Sell.  He  had  deep 
interest  in  educational  improvement,  and  while  gathering 
schools  in  needy  places,  gave  an  educational  uplift  to  the  Sun- 
day-school work  of  the  two  great  states.  He  did  much  to 
stimulate  the  churches  and  individuals  for  the  splendid  finan- 
cial support  which  they  have  since  given.  Mr.  Sell  was  as- 
sisted in  IlHnois  in  1889  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Cotton,  and  in  1891  and 
1892  by  Rev.  E.  L.  Hill. 

On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Sell  in  1892,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  W.  F.  McMillen,  who  had  served  the  Society  with  ability 
for  five  years  in  Ohio  and  Indiana.  Wisconsin  was  made  a 
separate  field,  and  Dr.  McMillen  retained  the  care  of  his  for- 
mer district,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  in  addition  to  Illinois.  Secre- 
tary McMillen,  during  the  eighteen  years  of  his  service  in  the 
Chicago  office,  was  aided  at  different  periods  by  Rev.  H.  S. 
Wannamaker,  Rev.  J.  J.  Watson,  Rev.  D.  M.  Brown  as  a 
correspondent  in  southern  IlHnois,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Bryner  in 
educational  work,  Rev.  James  Hayes,  Rev.  H.  T.  WilHams, 
Rev.  W.  A.  ElHott,  Rev.  F.  L.  Fisk,  Rev.  A.  J.  SuHens  and 
Rev.  B.  M.  Southgate. 


Central  Superintendents 

Rev.  henry  T.  SELL.  D.D.  Rev.  WILLIAM  F.  McMILLEN.  D.D. 

Rev.  GEORGE  C.  HAUN 
Rev.IELISHA  W.  miller  Rev.  ORRIN  L.  ROBINSON 


State  Development  91 

Dr.  McMillen  was  untiring  in  his  devotion  and  loyalty  to 
the  society,  and  labored  incessantly  until,  broken  in  health, 
he  laid  down  his  Ufe.  A  movement  was  started  to  create  a 
fund  to  perpetuate  his  work,  and  deserves  to  be  completed 
as  a  memorial  to  the  noble  service  rendered  for  the  children 
and  youth,  foreign  and  native,  poor  and  rich,  to  whom  he 
devotedly  ministered. 

Dr.  McMillen  was  succeeded  in  March,  1911,  by  Rev. 
Robert  W.  Gammon,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church, 
Decatur,  Illinois.  Dr.  Gammon  was  nominated  by  the  Com- 
mittee on  Sunday-school  Work  of  the  lUinois  Congregational 
Conference,  because  of  his  executive  ability,  missionary  zeal, 
and  special  equipment  for  leadership  in  religious  education. 
He  had  shown  marked  ability  as  a  leader  in  Bible  study  in 
different  educational  institutions  and  summer  schools. 

Earnest  calls  came  from  other  states  for  help  in  meeting  the 
new  educational  demands  incident  to  the  use  of  graded  litera- 
ture and  improved  methods  of  religious  education.  Ohio 
was  made  a  separate  field  and  the  Chicago  district  secretary 
was  given  larger  opportunity  to  render  assistance  in  the  Cen- 
tral Western  States.  Dr.  Gammon  assisted  in  this  wide  field 
in  local  and  state  associations  and  by  special  Sunday-school 
conferences  and  institutes.  He  led  the  Congregational 
Summer  Sunday-School  Conference  at  Frankfort,  Michigan, 
and  assisted  in  similar  gatherings  in  other  states. 

Miss  S.  A.  McDermott,  as  assistant  to  Dr.  Gammon,  aided 
schools,  large  and  small,  in  successfully  meeting  their  new 
educational  opportunities. 

Under  the  administration  of  Dr.  Gammon,  the  Chicago 
office  grew  in  importance,  and  its  influence  extended  through- 
out the  Middle  West. 

Wisconsin 

Wisconsin  was  among  the  early  states  to  receive  a  worker. 
Rev.  John  R.  Reitzel  was  selected  because  of  interest  in  the 


92  The  Sunday-School  Century 

religious  training  of  the  young,  and  his  famiharity  with  the 
German  language.  Mr.  Reitzel's  service,  which  began  in 
1884,  was  brief,  and  on  his  resignation  the  work  was  carried 
for  a  time  from  the  Chicago  and  Boston  offices,  until  1887, 
when  Rev.  H.  T.  Sell  took  the  superintendency  in  connection 
with  IlHnois.  Two  strong  men,  who  afterwards  rendered 
distinguished  service,  were  employed  while  students,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Sell,  Otto  C.  Grauer,  in  1889,  and  George  C. 
Haun,  for  two  summer  vacations,  while  pursuing  their  theo- 
logical courses  at  Chicago  Seminary. 

The  services  of  Superintendent  Sell  did  much  to  give  the 
work  standing  among  the  ministers  and  laymen  of  the  State. 
Rev.  George  C.  Haun  was  elected  superintendent  in  1892,  and 
carried  missionary  Sunday-school  extension  to  the  most  re- 
mote corners  of  the  great,  rapidly-developing  commonwealth. 
Robust  and  vigorous  in  mind  and  body,  winsome  in  spirit, 
and  with  burning  missionary  and  evangeHstic  zeal,  Mr.  Haun 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  state,  and  rendered  it  a  very 
large  service.  His  sudden  death  in  1903,  caused  by  unusual 
exposure  in  pioneer  missionary  effort,  brought  great  sorrow  to 
multitudes  who  were  interested  in  his  promising  life  and  work. 

Wisconsin  became  noted  as  one  of  the  most  liberal  states 
for  the  support  of  the  Society,  the  donations  reaching  $3,714.43 
in  1903.  In  addition  to  the  regular  contributions  there  were 
some  special  gifts,  one  generous  donor  contributing  $5,000 
at  one  time. 

During  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  Haun,  Rev.  John  Willan 
entered  the  service,  in  1897,  as  a  joint  missionary,  and  con- 
tinued in  this  relation  until  1915.  During  an  interval  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Haun,  Mrs.  Haun,  who  had  been  a  devoted 
helper  to  her  husband,  cared  for  the  work.  In  1904  Rev, 
O.  L.  Robinson  was  elected,  a  worthy  successor  to  Mr.  Haun. 
Rev.  Fred  Dahlberg,  a  product  of  the  missionary  effort  of 
the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies,  and  the 
Christian  Academy  at  Ashland,  was  commissioned  in  1905, 


State  Development  93 

and  rendered  excellent  service  for  three  years  in  northeastern 
Wisconsin  and  northwestern  Michigan.  In  addition  to  Mr. 
Willan  and  Mr.  Dahlberg,  Mr.  Robinson  had  for  brief  periods 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  F.  G.  Wangehn  and  Mr.  A.  H.  Parmelee, 
and  for  four  years  from  1912  the  services  of  Miss  Helen  M. 
Jones  as  a  joint  missionary. 

Wisconsin  was  one  of  the  first  to  organize  a  state  confer- 
ence, with  plans  for  taking  large  responsibility  in  relation  to 
all  departments  of  missionary  work.  An  arrangement  was 
entered  into  with  the  Sunday-School  Society  by  which  joint 
responsibility  was  assumed  in  relation  to  the  employment  and 
direction  of  workers;  monthly  reports  and  percentage  of 
receipts  going  to  the  national  society,  which  arranged  for  the 
grants  of  literature,  made  acknowledgment  of  receipts,  and 
aided  in  the  educational  work  in  the  state. 

Ohio 

In  1887  Rev.  W.  F.  McMillen,  a  recent  graduate  of  Oberhn 
Seminary,  after  a  pastorate  at  Lyme,  Ohio,  was  elected 
superintendent,  and  entered  with  enthusiasm  into  his  life 
work.  He  kindled  new  zeal  and  helped  to  plant  branch  schools 
around  the  country  and  village  churches,  and  gave  inspira- 
tion and  help  for  improving  and  extending  religious  education 
in  the  state. 

A  Sunday-school  planted  at  Hough  Avenue,  Cleveland,  and 
fostered  by  Superintendent  McMillen,  soon  developed  into 
one  of  the  prominent  churches  of  the  city.  Similar  service 
was  rendered  in  other  parts  of  Cleveland,  and  in  several  of  the 
growing  cities  and  towns.  Mr.  W.  E.  Wheeler,  Mr.  T.  J. 
Collier,  Rev.  C.  J.  Dole,  and  Rev.  George  Gadsby  assisted  for 
brief  periods,  and  after  the  removal  of  Dr.  McMillen  to 
Chicago,  Rev.  Norman  Plass  served  for  a  short  time  as  joint 
missionary  in  Ohio,  while  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Bryner  rendered  a 
large  educational  service  here,  as  in  other  parts  of  the  field 


94  The  Sunday-School  Century 

under  Dr.  McMillen's  direction.  In  the  following  years  assis- 
tance was  also  given  by  Rev.  O.  R.  Newcomb  and  Rev.  A.  J. 
Sullens.  In  1908  Rev.  B.  M.  Southgate  was  appointed  as- 
sistant superintendent  especially  for  the  Ohio  field,  with  head- 
quarters at  Toledo,  and  carried  the  work  successfully  for  two 
years.  Dr.  McMillen  had  aided  in  the  neighboring  states  of 
Kentucky  and  West  Virginia,  and  with  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Southgate  these  states  were  added  to  the  Ohio  district. 
A  large  proportion  of  the  children  and  young  people  in  the 
Congregational  Sunday-schools  of  Ohio  knew  and  loved  Dr. 
McMillen,  and  mourned  his  death. 

In  1911,  on  the  nomination  of  the  Ohio  Sunday-school 
Committee,  Rev.  Charles  L.  Fisk,  of  Sabetha,  Kansas,  was 
elected  superintendent.  He  had  shown  marked  interest  and 
ability  in  missionary  and  educational  Sunday-school  work 
during  pastorates  in  Chicago  and  Kansas.  Kentucky  and 
West  Virginia  were  still  retained  in  connection  with  Ohio,  and 
western  Pennsylvania  was  added  to  Mr.  Fisk's  field. 

Indiana 

Indiana  was  one  of  the  fields  cultivated  by  the  Massachu- 
setts Sabbath-School  Society,  when  it  aided  alike  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  schools.  Those  in  Indiana  to  a 
large  extent  became  Presbyterian.  When  Rev.  W.  F.  Mc- 
Millen was  elected  to  the  superintendency  in  Ohio  in  1887, 
Indiana  soon  became  a  part  of  his  field,  and  when  he  removed 
to  Chicago  it  still  remained  under  his  care,  receiving  a  part  of 
his  time  and  that  of  his  helpers.  Among  these  Mrs.  Bryner 
gave  valuable  assistance  in  improving  the  schools.  Dr. 
McMillen  was  one  of  the  first  to  begin  Christian  work  in  Gary 
and  planted  the  first  Sunday-school  there.  His  helper.  Rev. 
A,  J.  Sullens,  took  an  active  part  and  was  called  to  become  the 
first  pastor  of  the  church  which  grew  out  of  the  Sunday-school. 
Indiana  was  retained  in  connection  with  Illinois  when  Dr. 


Iowa  Superintendents 


I    Rev.  JAMES  R.  KNODELL 


Rev.  CHARLES  A.  TOWLE 


Rev.  henry  W.  TUTTLE,  D.D. 


Rev.  OTTERBIEN  O.  SMITH 


Rev.  AUGUSTUS  C.  HACKE 


State  Development  95 

Gammon  became  superintendent,  and  assistance  was  given 
by  Miss  S.  A.  McDermott. 

Between  the  years  1882  and  1917  there  were  organized  76 
schools,  and  506  grants  of  literature  were  made  to  aid  the 
schools. 

Iowa 

In  1884  Rev.  James  R.  Knodell,  pastor  at  Eldora,  Iowa,  was 
elected  superintendent  with  large  promise  of  usefulness, 
but,  breaking  in  health,  he  resigned  after  a  year  of  service. 

He  was  succeeded  in  1886  by  Rev.  Charles  A.  Towle, 
pastor  at  Monticello,  who  for  thirteen  years  did  a  steady 
strong,  and  constructive  work,  until  he  passed  away  in 
1899,  honored  and  beloved.  Mr.  Towle  carried  the  work 
alone  except  for  a  brief  period  in  1889,  when  he  was  assisted 
by  Mr.  L.  E.  Herrick. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Towle,  Rev.  Otterbein  O.  Smith  was 
elected  superintendent  and  carried  forward  the  work  for  six 
years,  being  assisted  in  1901  and  1902  by  Rev.  H.  H.  Burch. 
In  1905  Superintendent  Smith  accepted  a  pastorate  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Henry  W.  Tuttle,  D.D.  For  a  period 
Superintendent  Tuttle  also  had  responsibilities  in  connection 
with  the  work  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  but  by  the 
recommendation  of  the  state  committee  it  was  arranged  that 
the  Sunday-school  work  should  be  under  separate  leadership, 
the  superintendent  giving  it  his  entire  attention. 

Dr.  Tuttle  was  closely  identified  with  Grinnell  College  and 
the  educational  interests  of  the  state.  In  connection  with  a 
strong  committee,  he  made  the  educational  as  well  as  mission- 
ary^ features  prominent.  In  this  rich  agricultural  state  the 
efforts  were  primarily  in  cultivating  the  neighborhoods  around 
the  country  churches,  many  of  which  are  inhabited  by  peoples 
of  other  lands,  or  their  descendants.  Generous  quantities  of 
literature  have  been  circulated,  Sunday-schools  strengthened, 
and  people  differing  in  language,  social  and  religious  customs 


96  The  Sunday-School  Century 

brought  into  harmonious  and  helpful  Christian  fellowship. 
In  1915  Dr.  Tuttle  resigned  the  superintendency  to  accept  a 
position  in  connection  with  Grinnell  College.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  A.  C.  Hacke,  as  director  of  religious  education, 
elected  by  the  state  conference  which  had  organized  to  take 
responsibility  for  the  work  in  the  state. 


Michigan 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Michigan  the  state  received 
generous  gifts  of  books  from  the  Congregational  Board  of 
Publication,  and  Sunday-school  literature  from  the  Massa- 
chusetts Sabbath-School  Society,  and  also  the  services  of  one 
of  the  early  workers.  Rev.  G.  W.  Newcomb.  Michigan  was 
among  the  first  states  to  take  action  in  regard  to  the  reorgani- 
zation of  the  Sunday-School  Society,  and  for  improving  and 
strengthening  its  Sunday-school  work.  In  1881  the  State 
Association  secured  a  visit  from  Secretary  A.  E.  Dunning, 
and  a  state  committee  of  three  was  appointed  for  co-operation. 

In  1883  a  memorial  was  presented  from  the  Kalamazoo 
Association  to  the  State  Association,  requesting  that  it  "  take 
up  this  work  in  the  state  in  co-operation  with  the  Congrega- 
tional Publishing  Society,  and  that  a  State  Secretary  be  em- 
ployed who  shall  give  his  whole  time  to  the  work." 

The  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  for- 
ward this  arrangement  consisted  of  Mr.  E.  K.  Warren,  of 
Three  Oaks,  Mr.  George  W.  Keyes,  of  OHvet,  and  Rev.  E.  W. 
Miller,  of  Clinton.  Rev.  E.  W.  Miller  was  elected  superin- 
tendent in  1884,  and  conducted  the  work  with  devotion  and 
success.  There  were  few  rural  communities,  lumber  villages 
or  mining  camps  which  he  did  not  visit  in  the  great  develop- 
ing commonwealth.  The  foundations  of  many  useful  churches 
were  laid  in  both  the  Upper  and  Lower  Peninsulas.  A  vast 
quantity  of  literature  was  distributed;  schools  were  encouraged 


State  Development  97 

and  helped  to  procure  books,  and  exchange  hbraries  were 
passed  on  from  school  to  school. 

After  seven  years  Mr.  Miller  reentered  the  pastorate,  and 
in  1891  Supt.  William  Ewing  of  North  Dakota  was  trans- 
ferred to  Michigan.  There  had  been  great  activity  in  mis- 
sionary extension,  and  a  developing,  strengthening,  and 
educational  work  seemed  necessary.  A  large  number  of 
branch  Sunday-schools  were  organized,  and  workers  were 
encouraged  to  foster  these  schools  and  bring  them  into 
affiliation  with  the  churches.  Emphasis  was  placed  upon 
Sunday-school  institutes  and  conferences  in  local  associa- 
tions. 

Triennial  Sundaj'^-school  conferences  were  held  at  Lansing, 
Greenville,  Grand  Rapids,  Detroit,  and  Pontiac,  bringing 
together  the  strong  ministers,  Sunday-school  workers  and 
educators  in  the  state,  and  also  experts  in  Bible  study  and 
religious  education  from  theological  seminaries  and  prominent 
educational  institutions.  These  conferences  had  a  large 
influence  in  deepening  interest  in  the  best  methods  of  rehgious 
education.  Action  was  taken  by  the  State  Association  in 
1895,  in  favor  of  graded  instruction,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed,  of  which  the  state  superintendent  was  chairman, 
to  further  this  object.  An  outline  graded  course  of  supple- 
mental lessons  was  prepared  and  endorsed  by  the  Congrega- 
tional State  Association  and  issued  under  the  title,  The 
Graded  Sunday  School  and  Course  of  Lessons  for  Teachers. 
Several  editions  of  the  outline  were  published,  received  wide 
circulation,  and  helped  to  start  the  movement  for  completely 
graded  courses. 

The  gifts  for  the  society  increased  and  Michigan  became  a 
generous  contributor  to  the  national  work. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Elhott  assisted  in  the  years  1892-93,  to  be 
followed  by  Rev.  Joel  Martin  from  1894  to  1896;  Rev.  Fred 
Bagnall,  1900  to  1904;  Rev.  Fred  Dahlberg,  1905  to  1908; 
all   of  whom  labored   principally  in  the   Upper  Peninsula. 


98  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Assistance  was  also  given  for  brief  periods  by  Rev.  E.  S.  Shaw 
and  Rev.  Daniel  Truman. 

On  the  retirement  of  Secretary  George  M.  Boynton,  D.D., 
in  1907,  Superintendent  Ewing  was  called  to  Boston  and 
became  missionary  and  extension  secretary. 

With  the  reorganization  of  the  Michigan  Congregational 
Conference,  it  assumed  responsibility  for  directing  the  Sunday- 
school  work,  in  co-operation  with  the  national  Society.  Rev. 
C.  H.  Harger  was  employed  as  Sunday-school  missionary  for 
four  years,  beginning  1909,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  F.  W. 
Sass,  in  1913,  who  for  four  years  did  much  to  foster  and 
strengthen  the  needy  schools  of  the  state. 


Nebraska 

Almost  coincident  with  the  appointment  of  Rev.  John  L. 
Maile,  in  Colorado,  Rev.  Jeremiah  D,  Stewart,  pastor  at 
Hastings,  became  superintendent  for  Nebraska,  January  1, 
1883.  Mr.  Stewart  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  general  educa- 
tion, and  had  pursued  the  Chautauqua  Normal  and  other 
Sunday-school  courses,  for  the  improvement  of  Sunday- 
school  instruction.  Mr.  Stewart  served  as  superintendent  for 
thirty  years,  a  longer  period  than  any  other  worker  in  this 
office  in  one  field,  and  during  this  period  there  were  organized 
632  Sunday-schools.  Institutes,  conferences,  and  normal 
classes  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  his  administration. 

A  goodly  number  of  faithful  men  were  associated  with  him 
as  helpers:  Rev.  J.  E.  Storm,  1888-89;  Mr.  H.  D.  Jackson, 
1890;  Mr.  C.  D.  Thompson,  1891;  Rev.  Charles  G.  Murphy, 
from  1898  until  he  was  called  to  the  superintendency  in 
Oklahoma  in  1900;  Rev.  E.  L.  Wismer,  1900-02;  Rev.  J.  H. 
Beitel,  1901-05;  Rev.  L.  O.  Pearson,  1902-11;  Mr.  A.  E. 
Gunderson,  1902;  Rev.  J.  T.  Haight,  1903;  Rev.  Harry 
Tweedy,  1905;  Rev.  J.  C.  Noyce,  1906-09;  Rev.  W.  D.  King, 


State  Development  99 

1910;  Rev.  F.  L.  Hall,  1912;  also  Miss  Lillian  M.  Benker, 
1904-09. 

When  Mr.  Stewart  desired  to  be  released  from  the  superin- 
tendency,  he  was  requested  to  continue  as  acting  superin- 
tendent, and  did  so  until  his  successor  was  appointed.  On  the 
nomination  of  the  State  Committee  of  Nebraska,  Rev.  Seth 
H.  Buell,  of  Grand  Island,  was  elected  to  succeed  Mr.  Stewart. 
Mr,  BueU  had  shown  missionary  interest  and  executive  ability, 
as  well  as  special  adaptation  for  deepening  interest  in  religious 
education.  At  the  request  of  his  successor  and  the  state 
committee,  and  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  society, 
Mr.  Stewart  remained  in  the  service  as  a  Sunday-school 
missionary  during  the  summer  months  for  three  years,  until 
suddenly  summoned  by  death,  in  the  midst  of  his  activities. 

The  value  of  the  work  upon  the  plastic  communities,  in 
material  improvement  as  well  as  social  and  reUgious  uplift, 
is  beyond  computation.  Only  eternity  can  reveal  the  results 
of  his  thirty-three  years  of  state-wide  leadership  and  service 
which  had  to  do  with  spiritual  Hfe  and  Christian  character. 
Mr.  BueU  made  happy  use  of  the  fellowship  and  co-operation 
of  his  predecessor,  which  proved  a  valuable  asset  in  the  en- 
largement of  the  work. 

Kansas 

Kansas  was  among  the  earhest  states  to  request  the  services 
of  a  worker,  and  Rev.  Jeremiah  E.  Piatt,  a  professor  of  the 
State  College,  at  Manhattan,  was  elected  superintendent  in 
1883,  and  in  1892  the  newly  opened  Oklahoma  Territory  was 
added  to  his  field  for  two  years,  when  he  resigned  the  work  in 
Kansas  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  the  territory  of  Oklahoma. 

During  Mr.  Piatt's  second  year  in  Kansas  he  organized 
21  Sunday-schools,  with  a  membership  of  about  1,175.  In 
1886  ten  Sunday-school  institutes  were  held  with  very  satis- 
factory results.     This  pioneering  and  educational  work  by 


100  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Professor  Piatt  indicates  the  character  of  the  service.  He  had 
the  missionary  zeal  of  a  Christian  pioneer,  and  the  educational 
instincts  of  a  college  professor. 

On  the  transfer  of  Superintendent  Piatt  to  Oklahoma,  Rev. 
William  L.  Sutherland  became  superintendent  for  Kansas, 
in  connection  with  Missouri,  and  when  it  became  necessary 
to  have  a  superintendent  for  each  state,  Mr,  Sutherland  was 
transferred  to  Kansas,  where  he  served  with  great  acceptance 
until  conditions  of  health  and  an  earnest  call  to  a  pastorate 
led  to  his  resignation. 

Rev.  Allen  Shaw  Bush,  well  equipped  from  Yale  University 
and  Divinity  School,  a  successful  pastor  in  Kansas,  was  as- 
sistant to  Mr.  Sutherland  from  1895  until  called  to  the  superin- 
tendency  in  Colorado. 

Mr.  Sutherland  was  followed  in  1902  by  Rev.  J.  Edward 
Ingham,  who  gave  special  attention  to  the  increase  of  Sunday- 
school  membership  in  all  the  schools  of  the  state.  Many 
institutes  and  conferences  were  held  for  improving  the  work 
and  for  winning  the  young  people  to  Christian  life. 

In  1909-12,  Miss  A.  L.  Trabue  aided  in  a  speciallj'-  needy 
region  in  southeastern  Kansas. 

In  1917  Mr.  Ingham  was  transferred  to  Idaho  and  Rev. 
Fred  Grey  was  elected  district  secretary  for  the  state. 

NORTHWESTERN  STATES 

South  Dakota 

The  work  in  that  part  of  the  territory  which  became  the 
state  of  South  Dakota  was  undertaken  in  1886  by  Rev.  W.  B. 
D.  Gray.  This  was  in  the  days  when  Dakota  was  in  the 
making,  and  frontier  conditions  prevailed.  Mr.  Gray  aroused 
interest  in  the  East,  as  well  as  in  the  territory,  for  enlarging 
the  work  and  soon  secured  a  choice  band  of  workers,  laymen 
and  ministers,  the  forerunners  of  a  splendid  company  who 


Northwestern  Superintendents 

Rkv.  WILLIAM  B.  D.  GRAY  Rev.  ROBERT  P.  HERRICK.  D.D. 

Rev.  EDWIN  H.  STICKNEY.  D.D. 
Ret.  CHARLES  M.  DALEY  Rev.  SETH  H.  BUELL. 


State  Development  101 

helped  in  developing  one  of  the  best  states  in  the  Union. 
Among  the  laymen  were  Mr.  H.  M.  Osgood,  Mr.  L.  E.  Her- 
rick,  Mr.  John  Colvin,  Mr.  G.  W.  Crater,  and  Mr.  B.  P.  Gray; 
and  ministers.  Rev.  William  S.  Bell  and  Rev.  Charles  M.  Daley, 
who  afterwards  became  successful  superintendents,  and  Rev. 
William  McCready,  whose  special  field  was  in  the  Black  Hills 
region  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state. 

Superintendent  Gray  and  the  Sunday-school  interests  were 
closely  associated  with  the  young  and  growing  Yankton 
College.  In  1893  Mr.  Gray  yielded  to  the  invitation  of  this 
institution  to  devote  himself  to  it  for  a  time,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  M.  Daley,  who  served  as  superin- 
tendent until  1908.  In  1898  Mr.  Daley,  as  chaplain,  accom- 
panied a  South  Dakota  regiment  to  the  Philippines  and 
rendered  noble  service  to  the  boys  at  the  front.  The  place 
in  his  absence  was  filled  by  the  former  superintendent,  Mr. 
Gray.  Mr.  Daley  had  associated  with  him,  at  different 
periods.  Rev.  John  Sattler  for  work  among  the  German 
peoples.  Rev.  Harvey  Lyman,  Rev.  J.  E.  Hughes,  Rev.  A.  C. 
Miller,  Rev.  F.  W.  Hart,  Mr.  T.  B.  Lathrop,  and  Rev.  L.  P. 
Putnam.  After  sixteen  fruitful  years  Mr.  Daley  was  trans- 
ferred to  Wyoming,  to  be  again  associated  with  Superin- 
tendent Gray,  and  the  superintendency  was  transferred  to 
Superintendent  Herrick  in  connection  with  Minnesota.  The 
plan  of  employing  a  number  of  district  workers  was  adopted 
for  meeting  the  special  emergencies  resulting  from  the  rapid 
influx  of  immigration.  This  plan  included  Rev.  J.  B.  Reese, 
Rev.  Emil  Dietrich,  Rev.  J.  E.  Evans,  Rev.  A.  C.  Miller, 
Rev.  V.  Vavrina,  Rev.  G.  E.  Green,  Rev.  M.  C.  Haecker, 
Rev.  D.  W.  Davis,  Rev.  D.  M.  Brown,  Rev.  Alec  Russell, 
Rev.  H.  C.  Van  Valkenburgh,  Rev.  T.  F.  Gait,  and  Rev.  R. 
B.  Holden. 


102  The  Sunday-School  Century 

North  Dakota 

While  the  vast  territory  of  Dakota  was  undivided,  and  had 
its  territorial  capital  at  Yankton,  the  northern  part  had  for 
many  years  no  railway  connection  with  the  southern,  and  was 
more  separated  from  it  than  some  of  the  adjoining  states. 
The  early  settlements  were  in  the  southern  portion,  and  it  was 
not  until  1887  that  the  Sunday-School  Society  was  represented 
by  a  worker  in  the  part  of  the  Territory  which  became  the 
state  of  North  Dakota. 

At  the  North  Dakota  Territorial  Association,  in  1886,  a 
vote  was  passed  requesting  the  Sunday-School  Society  to 
place  a  superintendent  in  the  field,  and  nominated  Rev.  Wil- 
Uam  Ewing,  of  Fargo.  He  accepted  the  position  in  1887,  and 
began  at  once  to  improve  the  work  by  means  of  institutes, 
conferences,  and  good  literature.  Superintendent  Ewing 
was  assisted  by  Rev.  L.  E.  Brown,  and  students,  Messrs.  W.  H. 
Gimblett  and  W.  H.  M.  Adams. 

The  territory  was  being  settled  with  great  rapidity  by 
Scandinavians  and  Americans  from  the  older  states.  Many 
communities  were  entirely  destitute  of  religious  services,  and 
large  numbers  of  Sunday-schools  were  established,  averaging 
about  three  to  each  Congregational  church. 

In  1891,  after  nearly  five  years  of  service,  in  which  the 
territory  had  come  to  statehood,  and  Congregational  work  had 
developed  rapidly,  Mr.  Ewing  was  called  to  the  superin- 
tendency  in  Michigan.  Rev.  Edwin  H.  Stickney,  who  had 
been  his  associate  since  1889,  was  elected  superintendent  and 
continued  uninterruptedly  the  aggressive  Sunday-school  work 
in  the  state. 

Superintendent  Stickney  has  had  the  assistance  of  Rev. 
E.  E.  Saunders,  Mr.  C.  H.  Gordon,  Mr.  F.  S.  Brewer,  Mr.  A. 
G.  Young,  Mr.  Milton  King,  Rev.  L.  J.  Pederson,  Rev.  N.  C. 
Barrie,  Rev.  I.  C.  Miller,  Mr.  I.  E.  Finney,  Rev.  C.  C.  Fair- 
banks, Rev.  L.  A.  Sahlstrom,  Rev.  E.  S.  Shaw,  Rev.  E.  E. 


State  Development  103 

Smith,  Rev.  J.  S.  Rood,  Rev.  W.  K.  Bloom,  Rev.  Christian 
Foss,  Rev.  J.  G.  Dickey,  and  Mr.  C.  R.  Dierlamm. 

Minnesota 

Minnesota  furnished  one  of  the  great  fields  for  Sunday- 
school  effort,  and  in  its  early  history  received  grants  of  htera- 
ture  from  the  Sunday-School  Society.  Rev.  Robert  P. 
Herrick,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  and  Hartford 
Theological  Seminary,  combining  literary  ability  and  a  pas- 
sion for  missionary  service,  was  chosen  superintendent  in 
1889.  His  zeal  did  not  diminish  during  the  twenty-seven 
years  of  his  continuous  superintendency,  even  when  faiHng 
health  called  for  some  cessation  of  effort;  and  hfe  suddenly 
closed  while  he  was  making  plans  for  pressing  forward  the 
cause  which  he  supremely  loved. 

Dr.  Herrick  made  selection  of  a  number  of  workers  who  were 
destined  to  occupy  a  large  place  in  other  states,  as  well  as 
in  Minnesota.  Among  these  Rev.  W.  L.  Sutherland  served 
for  two  years  from  1891,  until  called  to  the  superintendency 
of  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  and  afterwards  of  Kansas.  He 
returned  to  the  state  in  1911,  where  he  served  with  devotion 
and  abiUty  as  assistant  superintendent,  and  at  the  death  of 
Dr.  Herrick,  as  acting  superintendent. 

Rev.  John  C.  Huntington  served  for  six  years,  and  was 
transferred  to  the  superintendency  of  Texas  and  Louisiana, 
where  he  completed  his  life's  work. 

Dr.  Herrick  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  Scandinavian  people, 
who  comprise  a  large  percentage  of  the  population,  and  secured 
the  services  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Okerstein,  who  labored  among  his 
Scandinavian  brethren  from  1895  to  1911.  There  were  em- 
ployed for  different  periods  Mr.  H.  K.  Wingate,  Rev.  C.  J. 
Sage,  Rev.  Carl  Soderquist,  Rev.  J.  A.  Dahlgren,  Rev.  S. 
Stone,  Rev.  L.  J.  Pederson,  Rev.  E.  C.  Lyons,  Rev.  Allen 
Clark,  Rev.  C.  E.  Ebersol,  Rev.  T.  W.  Howard,  R^v.  A.  S. 


104  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Parks,  Rev.  J.  H.  Clark,  and  several  temporary  workers. 
Rev.  W.  J.  Conard,  as  a  joint  district  missionary,  entered  the 
service  in  1903,  and  did  hard  work  faithfully  until  1914. 

With  the  exception  of  Washington  more  schools  were 
organized  in  Minnesota  than  in  any  other  state.  Grants 
of  literature  were  made  to  large  numbers  of  foreign  peoples, 
whose  first  insight  into  American  Christian  life  was  through 
the  work  of  the  Sunday-School  Society.  The  sum  of  $110,- 
508.13  expended  has  had  much  to  do  with  laying  Christian 
foundations  in  this  great  commonwealth.  Churches  and 
individuals  have  been  generous  in  donations,  which  aggregate 
$49,957.33. 

MOUNTAIN  STATES 

Colorado 

The  "  centennial  state  "  was  the  first  to  receive  a  superin- 
tendent after  the  reorganization  of  the  society.  Rev.  John  L. 
Maile,  commissioned  August  14, 1882,  began  service  November, 
1882.  Mr.  Maile  had  been  deeply  interested  in  the  im- 
provement of  Sunday-school  work  in  Michigan,  where  he  was 
an  honored  pastor.  He  attended  the  Sunday-school  institutes 
in  connection  with  the  original  Chautauqua  Assembly,  and 
was  active  in  arousing  the  denomination  to  enlarge  and 
improve  its  Sunday-school  work. 

The  first  Sunday-school  organized  by  the  society  under  the 
new  regime  was  gathered  by  Mr.  Maile  in  Elyria,  a  suburb  of 
Denver,  in  January,  1883.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  a 
tent  secured  for  the  purpose.  Special  services  were  held  every 
evening  for  two  weeks,  and  several  conversions  occurred, 
and  a  Sunday-school  of  twenty-four  members  was  organized. 
The  tent  was  blown  down  and  destroyed,  but  the  interest 
awakened  by  the  Sunday-school  led  to  the  building  of  a  chapel, 
and  a  church  of  sixteen  members  was  organized,  which  in 


Rev.  CHARLES  N.  FITCH 
Rev.  HERBERT  E.  LEE 


Mountain  State  Superintendents 
I 
Rev.  franklin  J.  ESTABROOK 


Rev.  ALLEN  S.  BUSH 


Rev,  GREGORY  J.  POWELL.  D.D. 


State  Development  105 

eight  months  increased  to  eighty,  while  the  Sunday-school 
numbered  over  two  hundred.  Thus,  in  a  community  without 
religious  services,  in  sixteen  months  there  grew  a  church  of 
influence  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  work  auspiciously  begun  by  Mr.  Maile  was  soon  inter- 
rupted because  he  could  not  endure  the  high  altitude,  and  he 
was  transferred  to  Missouri  in  April,  1883.  Mr.  Maile's 
ability  and  standing  are  an  index  of  the  character  of  the  men 
who  were  appointed  to  represent  the  society. 

The  work  in  Colorado  was  continued  by  Rev.  Harlan  P. 
Case,  who  was  called  from  the  pastorate  at  Maysville  and 
began  his  service  in  May,  1883.  In  five  years  he  planted 
sixty  schools  with  a  membership  of  twenty-five  hundred,  and 
gave  them  constant  fostering  care.  He  also  did  valuable 
pioneering,  and  planted  several  schools  in  the  territory  of 
Wyoming.  Suffering  a  breakdown  in  health,  he  made  a 
visit  to  southern  California,  where  he  entered  upon  a  successful 
career  of  over  thirty  years. 

Mr.  Case  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  C.  Woodruff,  ap- 
pointed 1888,  who  served  for  one  year  and  was  followed  by 
Rev.  Charles  N.  Fitch,  from  1889  to  1897.  In  1889  Mr.  Fitch 
was  assisted  by  two  Yale  students,  Mr.  S.  C.  Brooks  and  Mr. 
A.  W.  Hitchcock,  afterwards  an  honored  pastor  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  in  1892  by  Rev.  F.  H.  Davis.  Mr.  Fitch  was 
succeeded  in  1897  by  Rev.  Allen  Shaw  Bush,  who  had  already 
given  splendid  proof  of  his  fitness  by  experience  in  Kansas. 

In  1906  assistance  was  given  to  Mr.  Bush  by  Rev.  G.  A. 
Ellis,  and  in  1907  Miss  Lucy  A.  Ward,  in  Routt  County, 
nearly  as  large  as  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  did  a  brave 
and  unique  work.  This  service  enlisted  the  interest  of  the 
Woman's  Home  Missionary  Union  of  New  York  State,  which 
devoted  its  gifts  for  some  years  to  this  field.  The  work  in 
Routt  County  was  taken  in  1908  by  Rev.  Kate  H.  Haus, 
who  continued  until  Utah  was  united  with  Colorado,  under  the 
supervision  of  Superintendent  Bush,  and  special  care  was  given 


106  The  Sunday-School  Century 

to  Routt  County,  from  1910  to  1913,  by  Miss  M.  Alice  Isely 
and  Miss  Anna  N.  Lewis,  in  connection  with  their  work  in 
Utah. 

Of  the  535  Sunday-schools  organized  in  the  state  by  the 
assistance  of  the  society,  313  were  gathered  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  Mr.  Bush.  After  seventeen  years  of  most 
successful  work,  in  which  Mr.  Bush  greatly  endeared  himself 
to  the  entire  state,  he  desired  a  respite  from  his  strenuous 
labors. 

On  the  nomination  of  the  state  committee  Rev.  Franklin 
J.  Estabrook,  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Religious  Educa- 
tion of  the  National  Council,  who  had  occupied  a  prominent 
place  in  promoting  religious  education  in  the  state,  was  elected 
state  superintendent. 

Wyoming 

Rev.  H.  P.  Case,  on  his  appointment  as  superintendent  for 
Colorado  in  1882,  was  given  supervision  of  the  work  in  Wy- 
oming. Long  rides  were  taken  by  stage  and  on  horseback  to 
Douglass,  Lusk,  Horse  Creek,  Little  Laramie,  and  other  points 
where  Sunday-schools  were  organized  and  foundations  laid 
which  afterwards  became  prominent  in  Wyoming  Congrega- 
tional history. 

When  Mr.  Case  removed  to  Cahfornia,  in  1887,  his  suc- 
cessors in  Colorado,  Rev.  G.  C.  Woodruff,  Rev.  C.  N.  Fitch 
and  Rev.  A.  S.  Bush  assisted  in  this  state  of  great  mountain 
ranges  and  immense  distances.  In  1893  Rev.  A.  T.  Lyman, 
who  succeeded  Mr.  McCready  in  the  Black  Hills  of  South 
Dakota,  was  given  responsibility  in  northwestern  Wyoming. 

In  1899  Rev.  W.  B.  D.  Gray,  who  had  served  with  marked 
success  in  South  Dakota,  became  superintendent  for  the 
Sunday-school  and  Home  Missionary  Societies  for  Wyoming. 

For  three  years  Rev.  J.  M.  Babcock  and  Rev.  O.  E.  Reads 
assisted  Mr.  Gray  until  obliged  to  retire  on  account  of  im- 


State  Development  107 

paired  health,  induced  by  hardships  in  the  service.  Mr. 
Gray  was  also  assisted  by  his  wife,  Rev.  Annette  B.  Gray,  who 
for  two  years  devoted  part  of  her  time  to  Sunday-school 
work.  In  1910  Rev.  Charles  M.  Daley,  previously  associated 
with  Mr.  Gray  in  South  Dakota,  came  as  assistant  superin- 
tendent, and  his  wide  experience  proved  of  great  value  for 
three  years,  in  which  he  frequently  took  the  place  of  Superin- 
tendent Gray  when  he  was  called  to  represent  the  Societies 
in  other  sections  of  the  country.  When  Mr.  Daley  was  trans- 
ferred to  Montana,  assistance  was  given  in  Wyoming  by  Rev. 
L.  P.  Putnam  and  Rev.  D.  W.  Tracy. 

The  state  has  large  numbers  of  small  communities  separated 
by  mountain  barriers  and  great  distances,  offering  large 
opportunities  for  Sunday-school  missionary  effort,  which  will 
continue  for  many  years  to  come.  The  vigorous  leadership 
of  Mr.  Gray  for  nineteen  years  made  a  lasting  impression  on 
the  state. 

Montana 

When  Rev.  William  Ewing  entered  the  service  in  North 
Dakota  in  1887,  Montana  Territory,  which  then  had  four 
newly  organized  Home  Missionary  churches,  was  included  in 
his  field.  A  few  schools  were  organized,  and  the  workers 
encouraged  for  two  years  until  Rev.  William  S.  Bell  was  elected 
superintendent  for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary 
Societies,  in  1889. 

At  this  period  ranching  and  mining  were  the  principal 
industries;  the  territorj^  had  but  a  meager  permanent  popula- 
tion, and  lawless  frontier  conditions  prevailed.  During  the 
seventeen  years  of  Mr.  Bell's  superintendence,  the  number  of 
churches  became  nineteen,  besides  twenty-three  mission 
Sunday-schools.  He  was  assisted  for  brief  periods  by  Mr. 
E.  C.  Ford,  in  1902,  and  by  Mr.  V.  W.  Roth,  in  1906. 

Mr.  Bell  was  succeeded  in  the  Sunday-school  work  by  Rev. 
E.  H.  Stickney  for  two  years  in  connection  with  North  Dakota. 


108  The  Sunday-School  Century 

The  territory  had  become  a  rapidly  growing  state,  and  was 
ready  for  Sunday-school  expansion.  Rev.  Joseph  Pope  was 
an  assistant  to  the  superintendents  for  seven  years  and  made  a 
deep  impression  for  righteousness,  temperance,  and  the  en- 
forcement of  the  law.  On  these  issues  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature,  where  he  wielded  a  most  wholesome  influence. 
Rev.  E.  E.  Smith,  of  North  Dakota,  assisted  in  southeastern 
Montana  from  1907  to  1909,  when  he  was  transferred  to 
northern  Montana,  until  his  removal  to  California  in  1913. 
Rev.  E.  S.  Shaw  also  gave  part  of  his  time  to  meet  special 
needs  in  northeastern  Montana.  Rev.  W.  J.  Spire  spent 
part  of  1909  in  a  vast,  new  region  just  opened  for  settlement. 

During  the  superintendency  of  Dr.  Stickney,  a  large  number 
of  Sunday-schools  were  organized,  from  which  churches  grew 
with  great  rapidity.  It  became  clear  that  a  resident  superin- 
tendent was  needed  in  Montana,  and  in  1909  Rev.  G.  J.  Powell 
was  chosen  joint  superintendent  for  the  Home  Missionary 
and  Sunday-School  Societies.  The  rapid  expansion  was 
accelerated  by  the  superintendency  of  Dr.  Powell  and  the 
splendid  company  of  workers  selected  by  him. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Pope,  Rev.  H.  O.  Johnson  was 
elected  for  evangehstic  and  Sunday-school  service.  A  valua- 
ble work  was  accomplished  in  1914  by  Rev.  J.  K.  Arnot,  who 
was  aided  by  the  Society  in  securing  an  automobile  which 
enabled  him  to  reach  and  help  in  a  large  region  around  his 
church  at  Musselshell.  Rev.  C.  M.  Daley,  a  veteran  of  the 
society  in  South  Dakota  and  Wyoming,  was  transferred  to 
Montana,  where  he  continued  the  work  with  unabated  energy 
until  1916,  when  he  closed  his  twenty-eight  years  of  most 
successful  work  with  the  society,  and  Rev.  C.  K.  Stockwell 
became  his  successor.  Rev.  George  N.  Edwards,  who  had 
shown  deep  interest  and  ability  in  Sunday-school  work  in 
Oregon  was  called  to  assist  Superintendent  Powell  as  a  joint 
worker. 

This  vast  state,  the  third  in  size  in  the  Union,  has  required 


State  Development  109 

to  have  a  large  number  of  schools  reorganized  because  of  its 
changing  population  connected  with  ranching  and  mining 
interests.  Since  the  work  began  367  schools  have  been 
gathered  by  the  workers  of  the  Sunday-School  Society. 
With  few  exceptions  the  ninety-four  churches  now  in  existence 
have  grown  from  these  schools.  There  have  been  expended 
$55,327.70  in  planting  and  developing  Sunday-schools.  When 
it  is  remembered  how  much  this  means  for  all  time  in  "Mighty 
Montana,"  which  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  great  states  of 
the  Union,  it  may  well  be  considered  a  splendid  investment 
in  Kingdom  building. 

Idaho  (Northern) 

The  state  of  Idaho  extends  from  Utah  to  the  Canadian 
hne,  a  distance  of  over  six  hundred  miles.  For  lack  of  rail- 
ways and  because  of  the  mountain  ranges,  the  northern  part 
is  united  with  Washington,  as  it  is  more  accessible  than  from 
the  southern  part  of  the  state.  Dea.  G.  R.  Andrus,  when  a 
missionary  in  eastern  Washington,  organized  Sunday-schools 
at  important  centers,  and  when  Rev.  Samuel  Greene  was 
appointed  superintendent  for  Washington,  he  was  also  given 
responsibiUty  for  northern  Idaho.  In  1891  Mr.  W.  G.  Trower 
labored  here  for  a  time.  On  the  resignation  of  Deacon  Andrus, 
Rev.  Edwin  J.  Singer  took  his  place,  until  called  to  the  superin- 
tendency  of  northern  California,  in  1898.  Rev.  J.  T.  Percival, 
appointed  in  1898,  divided  his  work  between  eastern  Washing- 
ton and  northern  Idaho.  In  1899  Rev.  George  Kindred 
labored  for  a  few  months,  and  in  1900  Rev.  A.  R.  Johnson 
took  up  the  Sunday-school  tasks  with  great  earnestness  in 
northern  Idaho,  where  he  spent  five  and  one-half  years,  and 
laid  down  his  life  in  the  service,  deeply  regretted  by  all.  His 
work  was  taken  in  1906  by  Rev.  R.  D.  Nicholls,  and  after  two 
years  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  C.  W.  Bushnell  for  three  years. 
In  1910  Rev.  J.  N.  Pendleton  began  a  successful  service  in 


110  The  Sunday-School  Century 

northern  Idaho  and  eastern  Washington,   which  continued 
with  increasing  influence  for  five  years. 

On  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Greene,  in  1910,  Rev.  John  H. 
Matthews  took  the  superintendency  of  northern  Idaho  in 
connection  with  Washington.  The  conditions  have  been  of  a 
frontier  character,  but  many  of  the  settlers  in  mining  camps, 
lumber  communities,  and  agricultural  districts  are  people  of 
culture,  and  receptive  of  the  best  things.  Each  worker  has 
been  a  strong  character;  many  difficulties  have  been  met,  and 
much  has  been  accomplished. 


Idaho  (Southern) 

In  1897  Rev.  Herbert  A.  Lee  was  commissioned  for  south- 
ern Idaho,  a  territory  larger  than  the  whole  of  New  England. 
Mr.  Lee  and  his  devoted  wife,  with  the  "  outfit  "  furnished 
by  the  Sunday-School  Society,  visited  hundreds  of  communi- 
ties, leaving  always  good  literature  and  a  gospel  message. 
After  thirteen  years  of  devoted  work  Mr.  Lee  retired  and  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Ludwig  Thomsen  as  joint  superintendent 
for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies  in 
southern  Idaho  and  eastern  Oregon.  Mr.  Thomsen  brought 
to  the  service  a  well-trained  mind  and  a  rich  experience  in 
preaching  and  teaching.  After  five  successful  years  he  re- 
entered pastoral  and  educational  work  in  Utah,  and  was 
succeeded  in  1916  by  Rev.  Arthur  J.  SuUens,  in  connection 
with  Oregon. 

Utah 

Through  the  workers  of  the  New  West  Educational  Com- 
mission, later  the  Congregational  Education  Society,  Utah 
was  helped  by  grants  of  literature  and  encouragement  in 
Sunday-school  extension.  Frequent  appeals  were  made  for 
more  direct  field  service,  which  led  to  the  appointment  of 


State  Development  111 

Miss  M.  Alice  Isely  in  1909  for  Utah  and  Routt  County, 
Colorado,  under  the  direction  of  Superintendent  Bush,  who 
was  given  supervision  for  Utah  in  connection  with  Colorado. 
Miss  Isely  was  a  successful  teacher  of  the  Education  Society, 
knew  and  loved  the  people  of  Utah,  Gentiles  and  Mormons, 
and  was  respected  and  trusted  by  both.  After  two  years  of 
efficient  service,  the  care  of  aged  parents  made  it  necessary 
for  her  to  discontinue. 

Miss  Isely  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Anna  N.  Lewis,  who,  for 
a  year  and  a  half,  as  a  helper  to  Superintendent  Bush,  gave 
special  attention  to  the  improving  of  existing  schools  and  the 
cultivation  of  teacher  training,  in  Utah  and  Colorado. 

The  work  in  the  state  is  difficult,  and  progress  is  slow,  but 
sure  foundations  have  been  laid.  The  Mormon  Church  has 
an  elaborate,  graded  Sunday-school  system,  and  a  successful 
Sunday-school  work  requires  the  best  possible  educational 
equipment,  and  use  of  the  best  literature.  The  workers  of 
the  society  have  kept  in  touch  with  "  Gentiles  "  surrounded 
by  Mormons  and  tried  to  foster  their  Christian  life  by  cor- 
respondence and  hterature. 

By  the  aid  of  the  Society  there  have  been  13  schools  or- 
ganized, and  $2,349.58  expended  in  555  grants  of  literature. 
The  new  state  has  shown  its  appreciation  of  the  service  ren- 
dered by  contributing  $1,275.95  toward  the  $8,237.50  which 
have  been  expended  for  missionary  service  and  hterature  by 
the  Society  since  1882. 

Arizona  and  New  Mexico 

The  territories  of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  had  a  few 
interesting  fields  under  the  care  of  the  Home  Missionary 
Society  and  a  number  of  schools  of  the  Congregational  Educa- 
tion Society,  which  were  aided  for  some  years  with  grants  of 
literature  by  the  Sunday-School  Society. 

In  1896  Supt.  H.  P.  Case  of  southern  Cahfornia  made  an 


112  The  Sunday-School  Century 

extended  journey  to  Arizona,  and  from  that  time  the  territory 
received  his  attention,  in  connection  with  southern  California, 
until  the  appointment  of  Rev.  George  W.  Chatfield  in  1907, 
who  served  for  two  years  as  superintendent  for  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  and  the  "  Panhandle  "  of  Texas. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Chatfield,  Superintendent  Case 
again  had  responsibihty  for  Arizona,  and  Superintendent 
Murphy  of  Oklahoma,  Rev.  W.  H.  Hurlbut,  and  other  helpers 
from  the  "  Panhandle  "  of  Texas  gave  what  assistance  they 
could  to  New  Mexico.  During  the  superintendency  of  Mr. 
Case,  he  and  his  associates  organized  29  schools,  each  of 
them  in  a  community  which  was  destitute  of  Sunday-school 
privileges. 

In  1897-8,  Mr.  Juan  Soza,  a  missionary  among  Spanish- 
speaking  peoples,  devoted  part  of  his  time  to  Sunday-school 
work.  In  1906  Rev.  Edmund  Owens  began  service  in  a  large 
and  destitute  region  around  Humboldt,  Arizona,  and  continued 
for  two  years,  in  the  midst  of  many  changes  and  difficulties. 
Mr.  Elmer  Elmquist  for  a  time  served  the  Humboldt  group  of 
Sunday-schools,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  A.  L.  Seward, 
from  1912  to  1915,  when  the  work  was  taken  by  Rev.  P.  L. 
Perry.  This  large  and  interesting  district  around  Humboldt, 
some  fifty  miles  in  extent,  in  which  the  Sunday-school  work 
has  an  important  part,  was  left  to  the  care  of  the  Congrega- 
tional denomination. 

Rev.  A.  J.  Benedict  began  his  labors  for  the  society  in 
1909,  and  has  strengthened  and  encouraged  the  Sunday-school 
work,  in  connection  with  the  small  and  scattered  churches  in 
the  southern  section  of  Arizona,  often  ministering  to  those  who 
were  far  removed  from  any  other  religious  privileges. 

For  twelve  years  the  Christian  work  of  the  territories,  which 
became  states  in  1912,  has  been  greatly  strengthened  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Heald,  D.D.,  superintendent  for  the  Home  Missionary 
and  Education  Societies,  who  most  heartily  cooperates  with 
the  Sunday-school  workers.     Yielding  to  his  and  other  en- 


■jte 

^   M  :W^^ 

i 

Pacific  Coast  Superintendents 
Rev.  SAMUEL  GREENE,  D.D.  Rev.  LOYAL  L.  WIRT,  Ph.D. 

Rev.  JOHN  H.  MATTHEWS  Rev.  EDWIN  J.  SINGER 

Rev.  CHARLES  H.  CURTIS  Rev.  HOWARD  N.  SMITH 


State  Development  113 

treaties,  in  1912  the  society  appointed  Rev.  Herbert  A.  Deck 
superintendent  for  the  two  states,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Home  Missionary  Society.  Mr.  Deck  did  an  excellent  work 
until  1915,  when  he  was  constrained  to  take  a  pastorate. 

These  states  have  a  large  percentage  of  Spanish  peoples, 
and  offer  an  unlimited  opportunity  for  greatly  needed  Sunday- 
school  work.  The  difficulties  are  great  and  the  progress 
slow,  but  the  adjoining  Mexican  repubhc,  as  well  as  the  two 
states,  can  be  helped  if  the  work  is  well  sustained. 

PACIFIC  COAST  STATES 

Washington 

On  the  Pacific  Coast,  as  in  many  other  sections  of  the 
country,  the  first  to  ask  earnestly  for  the  appointment  of 
field  workers  were  the  superintendents  of  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society.  Rev.  George  H.  Atkinson,  superintendent  for 
Oregon  and  Washington,  early  applied  for  the  assistance  of 
the  Sunday-School  Society.  He  was  furnished  with  grants  of 
literature  and  workers  were  appointed  for  brief  periods  in 
his  field. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  great  rush  into  Washington 
Territory,  in  1885,  Dea.  G.  R.  Andrus  was  appointed  and 
proved  a  faithful  missionary,  working  in  the  eastern  section 
of  the  state  until  he  closed  his  labors  in  1890. 

Rev.  Samuel  Greene  was  called  into  the  service  in  1887  and 
soon  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  Christian  statesmen 
in  the  development  of  this  great  territory.  In  addition  to 
Washington  he  had  supervision  in  northern  Idaho;  he  also 
rendered  assistance  in  Oregon  at  different  periods.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  over-estimate  the  devoted  services  of  Dr. 
Greene  for  twenty-three  years  in  the  territory  and  new  state. 
With  unflagging  zeal  he  devoted  his  splendid  executive  ability 
and   foresight    to    organizing   Sunday-schools    and   bringing 


114  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Christian  training  to  multitudes  of  young  people.  Many  of 
the  schools  which  he  planted  have  become  the  most  useful 
churches  in  the  state. 

Among  those  who  served  with  Dr.  Greene  for  brief  periods 
or  for  a  number  of  years,  and  with  profit  to  the  state,  were 
Rev.  R.  A.  Rowley,  Rev.  E.  J.  Singer,  Mr.  W.  G.  Nelson, 
Rev.  W.  E.  Young,  Rev.  O.  L.  Fowler,  Rev.  G.  H.  Lee,  Rev. 
W.  L.  Dawson,  Rev.  W.  C.  Wise,  Rev.  H.  W.  Young,  Rev. 
G.  P.  Merrill,  Rev.  H.  F.  Burgess,  and  Rev.  J.  T.  Percival, 
who  was  "  Asa  Bullard  Missionary "  from  1898  to  1909. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Dick  began  service  in  1903,  and  was  made  "  Asa 
Bullard  ]Missionary  "  on  the  retirement  of  JVlr.  Percival,  and 
did  honor  to  this  position.  Rev.  J.  L.  Hershner  did  a  strong 
work  from  1906  to  1912,  especially  on  the  northern  shore  of  the 
Columbia  River.  Rev.  C.  W.  Bushnell  began  work  in  Wash- 
ington in  1907,  and  was  transferred  to  northern  Idaho  in 
1908.  Rev.  J.  N.  Pendleton  in  1910  entered  upon  his  fruitful 
service  in  eastern  Washington  and  northern  Idaho,  continuing 
until  1916. 

On  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Greene,  who,  because  of  advancing 
years,  desired  release  from  the  heavy  burdens,  Rev.  John  H. 
Matthews,  on  the  nomination  of  the  State  Committee  of 
Washington,  was  elected  superintendent  for  Washington  and 
northern  Idaho.  Mr.  Matthews  had  speciaHzed  in  Sunday- 
school  methods  and  leadership,  and  after  the  period  of  rapid 
development  and  the  strong  aggressive  missionary  activities 
of  Superintendent  Greene,  the  field  was  ripe  for  his  efforts  in 
strengthening  and  developing  as  well  as  extending  the  work. 

There  have  been  951  Sunday-schools  organized  in  the  state 
by  means  of  the  workers  of  the  Society.  This  number  is  in 
excess  of  that  in  any  other  state.  There  have  been  8,479 
grants  of  Hterature  at  a  cost  of  $22,739.03  and  $122,831.60 
expended  in  missionary  service,  a  total  of  $145,570.63.  This 
new  state  has  contributed  to  the  society  $33,674.20. 

A  visit  to  the  weU-equipped  Sunday-schools  and  the  beauti- 


State  Development  115 

ful  churches  which  have  grown  from  this  judicious  planting 
is  a  clear  proof  of  the  T\isdom  of  the  large  investments  made  in 
this  great  new  state. 


Oregon 

The  wise  interest  of  Dr.  Atkinson,  superintendent  of  the 
American  Home  ]Missionar>'  Society,  led  to  early  ser^^ce  in 
this  state  by  gi-ants  of  hterature  and  assistance  by  a  number  of 
workers.  Dr.  Atkinson  was  among  the  first  to  see  the  need 
of  special  representatives  of  the  Sunday-School  Societj'. 

In  1886  Rev.  Amos  X.  Bower  was  elected  superintendent, 
but  served  only  a  brief  period.  Until  1890  the  work  was 
associated  with  TTashington,  and  Rev,  G.  A.  Rockwood,  ^Mr. 
A.  B.  Snider,  Rev.  W.  F.  Rose,  Rev.  Joseph  Wolfe,  and  Rev. 
E.  P.  Roberts  were  employed  at  different  periods.  In  1890 
Rev.  Charles  H.  Curtis,  of  Lysander,  Xew  York,  was  elected 
superintendent,  and  served  four  j'ears.  He  had  for  assistants 
Mr.  J.  B.  Hughes,  Rev.  H.  F.  Burgess,  Mr.  W.  A.  Bond,  Rev. 
Wilham  Smith,  and  Rev.  J.  L.  Hershner. 

On  the  resignation  of  ^Ir.  Curtis  to  accept  a  pastorate. 
Rev.  Ralph  A.  Rowley  was  transferred  from  "Washington,  and 
served  until  1902.  During  this  period  Rev.  ^Martin  Burhn- 
game  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Br^-ant  were  emploj-ed  for  a  short  time, 
and  Rev.  :M.  C.  Munson  from  1895  to  1907. 

Rev.  Howard  X.  Smith  was  called  to  the  superintendency 
in  1902,  and  with  fidehtj'  served  for  twelve  years.  At  different 
times  during  this  period  Rev.  Richard  Brown,  Rev.  H.  C. 
Cleveland,  Rev.  0.  A.  Stillman,  and  Rev.  Wilham  Upshaw 
were  his  assistants.  In  1906  Rev.  ^Nlark  C.  DsLvis  began  his 
unique  and  useful  work  for  the  southwestern  section  of  the 
state.  By  means  of  bicycle,  motor-c^'cle,  and  many  long 
journeys  on  foot  when  no  swifter  means  could  be  pro\'ided, 
he  ministered  to  many  communities  which  otherwise  were 
entirely  destitute  of  reHgious  pri^'ileges.     In  the  fertile  but 


116  The  Sunday-School  Century 

lonely  valleys  he  often  held  the  first  religious  service  in  settle- 
ments which  had  been  established  from  ten  to  fifty  years. 

In  the  interest  of  economy  Oregon  and  Washington  were 
again  united  in  1914,  Supt.  J.  H.  Matthews  and  Rev.  J.  M. 
Dick  sharing  their  services  between  the  two  states. 


California  (Southern) 

In  1887  Rev.  H.  P.  Case,  superintendent  for  Colorado, 
broken  in  health,  made  a  visit  to  southern  California  for  the 
purpose  of  rest.  He  found,  however,  work  at  hand,  and  en- 
tered earnestly  into  it.  Finding  great  benefit  from  the  cli- 
mate, and  receiving  urgent  requests  to  remain,  he  took  the 
superintendency  in  California,  May,  1887.  There  was  no 
representative  of  the  Society  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state, 
and  he  cooperated  with  the  Northern  Congregational  Asso- 
ciation, until  the  appointment  of  Rev.  Loyal  L.  Wirt,  in  1890. 
Mr.  Case  then  devoted  his  entire  efforts  to  southern  Cali- 
fornia until  1896,  when  the  territory  of  Arizona  was  added 
to  his  field. 

For  twenty-five  years  he  carried  the  work  alone,  apart  from 
service  for  a  short  period  by  Rev.  L.  N.  Barber,  in  1893-4. 
During  this  time  Mr.  Case  assisted  in  organizing  461  Sunday- 
schools,  and  aided  these  and  other  needy  schools  with  3,218 
grants  of  literature. 

In  these  years  southern  California  passed  through  many 
transitions,  with  rapid  developments  and  times  of  depression 
succeeding  each  other.  The  changes  necessitated  the  or- 
ganization of  a  large  number  of  schools,  many  of  which  re- 
quired frequent  reorganization, 

Mr.  Case  resigned  the  superintendency  in  1913,  and  the 
state  was  put  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Miles  B.  Fisher, 
with  Mr.  Case  remaining  a  missionary  of  the  society  which 
he  has  served  so  long  with  love  and  devotion. 


State  Development  117 

California  (Northern) 

The  entire  state  of  California  received  the  attention  of 
Superintendent  Case  when  he  was  transferred  from  Colorado 
in  1887.  He  organized  five  schools  in  Fresno  and  Tulare 
Counties,  and  aided  the  schools  of  many  newly  organized 
churches.  It  was  early  recognized  that  this  vast  state  should 
be  divided  Congregationally,  and  Rev.  Loyal  L.  Wirt,  who 
had  served  the  society  as  a  student  in  vacations,  became 
superintendent  of  northern  California  in  1890.  He  found  a 
great  field  ripe  for  the  work  of  the  Sunday-School  Society. 
Hundreds  of  communities  were  destitute  of  religious  services, 
and,  with  a  passion  for  missionary  pioneering,  Mr.  Wirt 
organized  large  numbers  of  schools.  Many  of  them  could  not 
be  followed  by  churches  of  the  Congregational,  or  any  other, 
denomination,  but  the  seed  was  sown,  and  good  hterature  was 
placed  in  thousands  of  homes. 

Mr.  Wirt  was  aided  for  short  periods  by  Mr.  R.  W.  New- 
lands,  Mr.  Howard  Patterson,  Miss  Florence  Yarrow,  Miss 
Grace  Scott,  and  from  1892  to  1896  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Cooke. 
In  1898  Mr.  Wirt  accepted  the  joint  superintendency  for  the 
Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies,  in  the  terri- 
tory of  Alaska.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  J.  Singer,  who 
had  gained  experience  in  Washington.  Mr.  Singer  had  as 
assistants  at  different  times  Rev.  R.  B.  Cherington,  Rev. 
R.  C.  Day,  Rev.  J.  A.  Benton,  and  Rev.  Miles  B.  Fisher. 

When  Mr.  Singer  resigned  in  1908,  the  appointment  of 
Rev.  Miles  B.  Fisher  met  the  demands  for  improved  methods, 
and  also  for  Sunday-school  extension.  Mr.  Fisher  had 
speciaHzed  in  rehgious  education  in  Sunday-school  work,  and 
at  once  took  a  leading  place  in  this  department.  In  1910  he 
was  made  educational  secretary  for  the  Sunday-School 
Society  for  the  Pacific  Coast,  in  connection  with  the  superin- 
tendency for  northern  California  and  Nevada.  He  also 
gave  instruction  in  the  Pacific  Theological  Seminary,  helping 


118  The  Sunday-School  Century 

to  equip  the  ministry  for  greater  efficiency  in  religious  educa- 
tion. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  assisted  by  Rev.  WilHam  Louch,  Rev. 
Huber  Burr,  and  Rev.  E.  J.  Singer,  who  re-entered  the  service 
in  1913.  There  was  also  an  important  Sunday-school  work 
done  among  foreign  peoples,  jointly  with  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  by  Rev.  G.  Gazarian  among  the  Armenians,  and 
Rev.  J.  G.  Eckhardt  among  the  German  people.  On  the 
readjustment  of  the  work  in  southern  California  in  1913,  Mr. 
Fisher  was  given  supervision  of  the  entire  state.  This  he 
carried  on  successfully  until  called  to  the  missionary  secretary- 
ship of  the  national  organization  in  1917. 

THE  SOUTHWEST 

Missouri 

Among  the  early  undertakings  of  the  Massachusetts  Sab- 
bath-School Society,  grants  of  literature  and  missionary  ser- 
vice were  given  in  the  Southwest,  especially  in  Missouri.  In 
1830,  Rev.  Artemus  Bullard  made  a  visit  to  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  and  stimulated  interest  both  east  and  west. 

In  1839  the  managers  of  the  Missouri  Sunday-School  Union 
requested  the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Society  to  aid 
them  in  extending  their  operations.  At  a  special  meeting  of 
the  board  it  was  voted  to  comply  with  the  request.  The 
General  Congregational  Association  of  Massachusetts  en- 
dorsed the  action  of  the  board,  and  funds  were  solicited  for 
the  purpose.     The  report  of  the  society  for  1841  states: 

"  Those  who  have  contributed  to  aid  the  cause  of  Sabbath- 
schools  in  the  newer  and  less  favored  portions  of  our  beloved 
country  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  they  have  been 
laboring  in  a  good  cause.  They  have  helped,  not  only  to 
revive  and  encourage  many  schools  already  existing  in 
Missouri,  but  to  establish  between  fifty  and  sixty  new  schools." 


Southwestern  Superintendents 

Rev.  WILLIAM  L.  SUTHERLAND  Rev.  J.  EDWARD  INGHAM 

Rev.  CHARLES  G.  MURPHY,  D.D. 
Rev.  GEORGE  W.  CHATFIELD  Rev.  JOHN  B.  GONZALES 


State  Development  119 

In  1883  Rev.  John  L.  Maile  was  transferred  from  Colorado 
to  Missouri,  and  served  with  much  success  for  a  year  and  a 
half.  During  the  period  he  organized  eleven  new  schools, 
with  nine  hundred  members,  and  from  these,  five  churches 
developed.  He  held  many  Sunday-school  institutes,  and 
gave  addresses  in  all  parts  of  the  state,  which  aroused  and 
deepened  interest  in  Sunday-school  work. 

In  1888  Rev.  H.  C.  Cronin  was  made  superintendent  for 
the  field  including  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Indian  Territory, 
and  served  until  1894.  On  his  retirement,  Rev.  Wilham  L. 
Sutherland,  connected  with  the  society  in  Minnesota,  was 
appointed  superintendent,  and  Kansas  was  added  to  this 
field.  With  fidehty  and  abihty  he  served  until,  the  work 
having  developed,  it  was  made  clear  that  a  division  was  neces- 
sary. Mr.  Sutherland  was  appointed  for  Kansas,  and  Rev. 
James  P.  O'Brien,  pastor  of  the  Tabernacle  Church,  Kansas 
City,  was  called  to  the  superintendency,  in  1901,  for  Missouri 
and  Arkansas,  and  supervision  of  Indian  Territory  until  it 
was  united  with  Oklahoma. 

In  meeting  the  special  needs  in  the  Ozark  region.  Superin- 
tendent O'Brien  was  aided  by  Rev.  H.  W.  Lambert,  Miss 
Olive  B.  Wygal,  and  Miss  Emma  A.  Kautsky. 

Under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  O'Brien,  those  associated  with 
him,  and  the  Missouri  Sunday-School  Committee,  many  of 
the  schools  reached  a  high  standard  of  efficiency.  Schools 
of  methods  were  conducted,  institutes  held,  and  the  Sunday- 
school  work  brought  into  close  connection  with  the  best 
educational  institutions.  In  1908  Dr.  O'Brien  was  made 
educational  secretary  for  the  Southwest  and  South.  In  all 
parts  of  this  vast  field  by  addresses  and  correspondence,  and 
in  cooperation  with  the  strongest  leaders  in  the  different 
states,  he  did  an  important  work  which  gives  large  promise 
for  the  future. 


120  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Oklahoma 

In  the  early  settlement  in  Oklahoma  Territory,  Superin- 
tendent J.  E.  Piatt  of  Kansas  did  successful  pioneering,  and 
aided  in  planting  a  number  of  schools.  He  was  transferred 
to  the  territory  in  1894,  and  labored  there  until  his  death  in 
1899. 

In  the  busy,  rushing  days  of  preparation  for  statehood  in 
1899,  Rev.  Joel  Harper  gave  valuable  assistance.  Rev. 
Charles  G.  Murphy,  who  had  served  the  society  in  Nebraska, 
was  called  to  the  superintendency  in  1900,  and  gave  his  time 
wholly  to  the  Sunday-school  work  until  1907.  In  that  year, 
on  account  of  special  conditions,  he  was  constrained  to  accept 
the  joint  superintendency  for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home 
Missionary  Societies,  and  in  the  following  year  the  "  Pan- 
handle "  of  Texas  was  also  placed  under  his  care.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  1912,  when,  by  mutual  agree- 
ment, it  was  considered  best  that  each  society  should  have  the 
entire  time  of  a  superintendent,  and  Oklahoma,  Texas,  and 
Louisiana  were  united  in  one  field  for  the  Sunday-school  work, 
under  the  care  of  Superintendent  Murphy.  To  meet  the 
marvelous  growth  of  the  new  state  a  number  of  helpers  were 
employed:  Rev.  S.  H.  Seccombe,  1905;  Rev.  L.  J.  Parker, 
1906-11;  Rev.  W.  O.  Rogers,  1907-08;  Rev.  W.  H.  Hurlbut, 
1907-09;  Rev.  J.  W.  Foster,  1909-12. 

Oklahoma  and  Indian  Territory  united  in  becoming  a  state 
in  1907.  In  the  period  immediately  leading  up  and  subse- 
quent to  statehood,  there  were  many  and  rapid  transitions, 
almost  unprecedented.  Churches  had  much  to  do  in  shaping 
the  political  and  educational,  as  well  as  moral  and  religious, 
institutions.  In  this  the  representatives  of  the  society, 
especially  under  the  lead  of  Dr.  Murphy,  had  their  full  share 
in  elevating  the  standard  of  religious  education,  and  bringing 
into  closer  co-operation  the  workers  in  different  denomina- 
tions.    The  marvelous  development  of  Oklahoma  is  like  a 


Southwestern  and  Mountain  State  Superintendents 

Rev.  henry  C.  CRONIN  Rev.  JOHN  C.  HUNTINGTON 

Rev.  LUDWIG  THOMSEN 
Rev.  HERBERT  A.   DECK  Rev.  S.  EDWARD  LYND,  Ph.D. 


State  Development  121 

romance  and  the  Sunday-School  Society  had  a  worthy  part 
in  transforming  a  wilderness  into  a  progressive  and  enter- 
prising Christian  commonwealth. 

Texas 

In  Texas,  as  in  most  of  the  other  states,  grants  of  hterature 
were  made  and  occasional  service  given  before  a  regular  worker 
was  appointed.  In  1899  Rev.  J.  C.  Huntington,  who  had 
been  a  missionary  of  the  Society  in  Minnesota  for  six  years, 
was  made  superintendent  for  Texas  and  Louisiana.  Mr. 
Huntington  proved  a  faithful  pioneer,  and  endured  hardship 
as  a  good  soldier,  until  his  earthly  labors  closed  in  1906.  He 
is  remembered  in  many  communities  with  love  and  gratitude. 

In  this  vast  field  there  was  at  this  period  a  rapid  develop- 
ment in  Sunday-school  work.  During  the  superintendency  of 
Mr.  Huntington  many  workers  were  employed,  who  reached 
communities  which  hitherto  had  little  or  no  Sunday-school 
privileges:  Rev.  W.  Z.  Whiddon,  1899-1900;  Mr.  A.  F.  C. 
Kirchner,  1901-04;  Mr.  W.  R.  Newton,  1902-03;  Rev.  J.  C. 
Calhoun,  1904-07;  and  for  short  periods.  Rev.  E.  H.  Kuhl, 
Rev.  S.  H.  Seccombe,  Rev.  J.  C.  Dazey,  Rev.  H.  L.  Saunders, 
Rev.  A.  J.  Smith,  Rev.  G.  A.  Smith,  and  Rev.  George  Wil- 
hamson. 

In  1907  Rev.  John  B.  Gonzales  was  made  joint  superin- 
tendent for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies 
for  Louisiana  and  Texas,  with  the  exception  of  the  "  Pan- 
handle." During  his  administration  a  number  of  joint 
workers  were  employed  in  Texas:  Rev.  W.  H.  Weatherby, 
1906-07;  Rev.  Clarence  Beard,  1906-08;  Rev.  T.  H.  Triplett 
and  Rev.  H.  J.  Hefner,  1907-08. 

The  "  Panhandle  " 

The  distances  in  Texas  are  so  enormous  that  it  seemed 
expedient    to    separate    the    northwestern    part,    called    the 


122  The  Sunday-School  Century 

"  Panhandle,"  and  associate  it  with  New  Mexico  and  Arizona. 
In  1905  Rev.  George  W.  Chatfield  became  superintendent, 
and  for  three  years  did  the  work  of  a  faithful  missionary. 
After  planting  and  fostering  a  goodly  number  of  schools,  Mr. 
Chatfield  resigned  to  accept  a  pastorate. 

In  1908  Rev.  Charles  G.  Murphy  was  given  charge  of  the 
"  Panhandle  "  in  connection  with  Oklahoma.  By  the  gener- 
ous gifts  and  personal  interest  of  Mr.  E.  K.  Warren,  of  Michi- 
gan, excellent  workers  were  employed:  Rev.  L.  J.  Parker,  in 
connection  with  Oklahoma,  1906-11;  Rev.  Fred  Dahlberg 
for  a  brief  period;  Rev.  W.  O.  Rogers,  1910-11;  Rev.  W.  A. 
Hensel,  1911-13;  Rev.  W.  H.  Hurlbut  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Hurl- 
but,  who  began  service  in  1909  and  continued;  Rev.  0.  T. 
Wattenbarger,  1913-15;  Rev.  C.  J.  Kellner,  1913-14;  and 
Rev.  K.  K.  Clark,  1914. 

Some  of  these  workers  were  pastors  of  the  new  churches 
which  have  been  the  result  of  Sunday-school  effort.  They 
adjusted  their  work  especially  to  interest  the  children  and 
youth  of  the  entire  community  and  supplied  Sunday-school 
nurture  as  widely  as  possible  in  the  new  settlements  by  which 
they  were  surrounded.  The  plan  adopted  in  the  "  Pan- 
handle "  was  to  cultivate  intensively  a  few  fields,  making 
Sunday-school  and  church  work  of  such  quahty  as  to  unite  all 
kinds  of  people. 

The  generous  benefactor  who  provided  so  largely  for  the 
work  is  emphatically  a  Sunday-school  man,  and  desired  the 
Sunday-School  Society  to  take  in  large  measure  the  re- 
sponsibiHty  even  when  it  passed  beyond  the  elementary  Sun- 
day-school stage. 

A  strong,  helpful  work  was  accomplished  in  the  midst  of 
peculiar  difficulties,  and  foundations  laid  which  give  promise 
for  all  time. 

In  1911  the  Sunday-school  work  of  Texas  was  united  and 
placed  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Murphy,  in  connection 
with  Oklahoma  and  Louisiana.     This  vast  field  requires  strong 


State  Development  123 

leadership  that  an  intellectual  and  spiritual  uplift  might  be 
given  to  the  entire  work  through  local  associations,  state 
conferences,  and  institutes  with  groups  of  churches.  The 
region  is  so  vast  that  there  will  be  opportunity  for  Sunday- 
school  extension  and  improvement  for  generations  to  come. 

Louisiana 

Although  Louisiana  is  a  southern  state,  it  has  been  asso- 
ciated for  Sunday-school  work  with  the  Southwest.  The 
first  worker  to  be  employed  was  a  student,  Mr.  C.  B.  Martin, 
engaged  for  the  summer,  in  1889.  The  first  superintendent 
was  Rev.  J.  C.  Huntington,  who  was  appointed  in  1899  in 
connection  with  Texas,  continuing  until  his  death.  Mr.  A. 
Lawless  served  for  the  summer  in  1906;  and  Rev.  W.  Z. 
Whiddon  seven  months  in  1899  and  five  months  in  1900;  Mr. 
A.  F.  C.  Kirchner  for  three  months  in  1901 ;  Rev.  J.  C.  Cal- 
houn, 1904-07;  and  Rev.  C.  C.  McCoy  for  five  months  in 
1906.  Rev.  John  B.  Gonzales  became  joint  superintendent 
for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies  in 
1907  for  Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  for  four  years  did  a  strong, 
aggressive  work  for  Sunday-school  extension  and  improvement. 

In  1911,  on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Gonzales  to  re-enter  the 
pastorate,  Rev.  Charles  G.  Murphy  became  superintendent 
for  the  district,  including  Louisiana.  White  and  colored 
Sunday-schools  alike  soon  looked  to  him  for  leadership  and 
help.  Under  his  direction  Mr.  Edward  H.  Phillips,  a  con- 
secrated layman,  gave  much  time  for  the  encouragement  and 
help  of  the  colored  schools. 

The  society  helped  to  organize  119  Sunday-schools  in  desti- 
tute communities  in  the  state,  and  gave  aid  by  means  of  416 
grants  of  Hterature.  The  schools  were  subject  to  change, 
and  some  of  them  were  short-lived,  but  earnest  efforts  were 
put  forth  in  the  midst  of  difficulties  and  good  results  have  been 
manifest. 


^24  The  Sunday-School  Century 

The  South 

The  work  in  the  South  was  early  in  the  plans  of  the  Sunday- 
School  Society,  and  churches  were  helped  by  grants  of  htera- 
ture  and  occasional  visits.  The  schools  of  the  American 
Missionary  Association  and  other  societies  were  early  aided 
in  this  way.  But  the  first  superintendent  of  the  Society  was 
Rev.  Wilham  Shaw,  elected  for  Georgia,  Alabama,  and 
Florida  in  1888. 

In  these  states  the  Congregational  churches  were  few  and 
weak.  The  churches  of  the  South,  of  all  denominations,  had 
depended  largely  upon  evangelistic  effort  rather  than  educa- 
tional methods.  The  Society  was  greatly  needed  for  strength- 
ening the  Congregational  churches  and  institutions,  and  it 
was  also  helpful  to  the  interdenominational  work. 

Mr.  Shaw  was  in  thorough  sympathy  with  the  South  and  its 
rehgious  sentiments,  and  labored  faithfully  for  nine  years 
He  did  much  to  stimulate  the  Sunday-schools  and  bring  the 
Congregational  churches  into  touch  with  the  denominational 
life  through  its  hterature  and  contact  with  the  workers  from 
different  parts  of  the  country.  In  Alabama  he  was  assisted 
for  a  time  by  Rev.  S.  P.  Brown,  and  in  Florida  and  Georgia  by 
Rev.  C.  W.  Frazer. 

On  the  termination  of  the  services  of  Mr.  Shaw  in  1897,  a 
change  in  poHcy  was  inaugurated,  and  Rev.  A.  T.  Clarke  was 
appointed  in  Alabama,  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Blackburn  in  Georgia, 
to  devote  part  of  their  time  to  Sunday-school  interests  with 
the  title  of  Correspondent.  This  arrangement  continued 
until  1902.  Rev.  Mason  Noble  did  a  similar  work  in  Florida 
from  1899  to  1900.  This  plan  as  a  temporary  expedient 
was  successful. 

In  1902  an  arrangement  was  made  for  joint  superintendents 
in  connection  with  the  Home  Missionary  Society:  Rev.  A.  T. 
Clarke,  D.D.,  was  employed  for  Alabama,  and  Rev.  J.  f' 
Blackburn  for  Georgia.     In  1907  Mr.  Blackburn's  field  was 


Central  and  Southeastern  Superintendents 

Rev.  JOHN  F.  BLACKBURN  Rev.  GEORGE  B.  WALDRON 

Rev.  CHARLES  L.  FISK 
Rev.  JAMES  M.  GRAHAM  Rev.  WILLIAM  O.  BERCKMAN 


State  Development  125 

enlarged  to  include  Florida;  and  in  1912  Florida  became  a 
separate  field  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  George  B.  Waldron, 
and  North  and  South  Carolina  were  added  to  Georgia,  under 
Superintendent  Blackburn.  The  states  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  had  previously  received  assistance  in  1895  from  Rev. 
Caleb  C.  Collins.  North  Carolina  was  served  several  winters 
by  Captain  George  W.  Lane,  a  native  of  the  state,  while  doing 
work  for  the  society  on  the  coast  of  Maine  in  the  summers. 

In  1898  Rev.  Asher  W.  Curtis,  D.D.,  was  appointed  cor- 
respondent, and  made  superintendent  in  1901,  holding  that 
ofiice  until  advancing  age  led  to  release,  and  the  superin- 
tendency  for  the  two  states  was  taken  by  Mr.  Blackburn. 
Dr.  Curtis,  however,  continued  as  a  correspondent  with  the 
schools  with  which  he  was  so  familiar,  and  aided  them  in 
procuring  Hterature. 

In  Alabama,  in  1902,  Rev.  A.  T.  Clarke,  D.D.,  who  had 
been  correspondent,  was  made  superintendent  and  served  for 
five  years,  having  also  the  supervision  of  Mississippi.  In 
1907  Dr.  Clarke  retired,  and  the  place  was  taken  by  Rev. 
Elmer  W.  Butler,  and  in  1910  Tennessee  was  added.  He 
served  the  three  states  until  1913,  when  he  accepted  a  pastor- 
ate, and  the  superintendency  for  Alabama,  Tennessee,  and 
Mississippi  was  transferred  to  Rev.  J.  M.  Graham,  a  graduate 
of  Atlanta  Theological  Seminary.  Mr.  Graham  did  a  strong 
work  for  three  years  and  was  called  to  take  a  professorship 
in  his  Alma  Mater,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Charles  T. 
Rogers. 

The  first  work  in  Tennessee  was  done  by  Mr.  John  Farrar, 
who  labored  with  great  zeal  for  a  few  months  each  year  from 
1885  to  1889.  He  found  a  needy  field,  and  as  a  result  of  his 
work,  188  Sunday-schools  were  formed. 

A  similar  work  was  done  in  Kentucky  by  Rev.  M. 
N.  Sumner  in  the  years  1888-89.  The  first  superintendent 
elected  was  Rev.  Gilbert  Walton  in  1893,  in  connection  with 
the  American  Missionary  Association.     He  resigned  in  1907 


126  The  Sunday-School  Century 

and  was  succeeded  in  Tennessee  first  by  Rev.  Elmer  W.  Butler, 
and  later  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Graham.  On  the  retirement  of  Rev. 
Gilbert  Walton  the  work  in  Kentucky  was  placed  with  that  of 
Ohio  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  McMillen,  who  was  aided  by 
Rev.  B.  M.  Southgate  from  1908  to  1910.  After  the  death  of 
Dr.  McMillen  in  1911,  Rev.  Charles  L.  Fisk  was  made  superin- 
tendent for  Ohio,  with  the  oversight  also  of  Kentucky.  Later 
Rev.  W.  O.  Berckman  was  added  as  a  joint  worker  for  the 
mountain  regions  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

In  the  states  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Georgia, 
Florida,  Kentucky,  North  and  South  Carolina,  1,004  schools 
were  organized,  3,073  aided,  with  6,471  grants  of  literature. 
In  many  parts  of  this  field  Sunday-school  work  was  entirely 
new,  and  in  all  parts  needed  to  be  fostered. 

The  Sunday-school  work  has  done  much  to  unite  the 
Christian  sentiment  of  North  and  South.  While  the  workers 
for  the  most  part  have  been  from  the  North,  and  cherished  its 
best  ideals,  they  have  been  thoroughly  identified  with  the 
South.  Rev.  J.  M.  Graham  is  a  worthy  son  of  the  Southland 
by  birth  and  training.  Rev.  J.  F.  Blackburn  was  born  in 
Springfield,  IlHnois,  next  door  to  the  home  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, and  the  great  future  president  often  took  him,  when  a 
baby,  affectionately  on  his  knee,  but  by  mutual  adoption  he 
is  a  genuine  representative  of  the  South. 

The  first  district  educational  secretary  appointed  by  the 
Society,  Rev.  J.  P.  O'Brien,  D.D.,  was  given  responsibility 
in  the  South  as  well  as  the  Southwest  and  secured  the 
interest  and  cooperation  of  the  southern  churches,  irrespec- 
tive of  race  or  color.  Much  has  been  accomplished  in  each 
state,  and  foundations  laid  for  needed  extension  of  religious 
education,  which  is  eagerly  welcomed  by  the  South. 

New  York  District 

When  New  York  was  considered  a  part  of  the  great  West, 
the  Massachusetts  Sabbath-School  Union  aided  its  Sunday- 


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Southern  Superintendents 

Rev.  ALMON  T.  CLARKE,  D.D.  Rev.  ASHER  W.  CURTIS.  D.D. 

Rev.  CHARLES  T.  ROGERS 
Rev.  ELMER  W.  BUTLER  Rev.  WILLIAM  SHAW 


State  Development  127 

school  work  with  Hterature  and  visitation.  It  gave  assis- 
tance to  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  churches  ahke. 

The  gatherings  at  Chautauqua  Lake,  in  1878  and  1879,  in 
which  many  prominent  Congregational  laymen  and  ministers 
from  New  York  took  part,  were  among  the  potent  influences 
which  led  to  the  election  of  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning  and  the 
reorganization  of  the  society.  In  1884  Mr.  W.  A.  Duncan 
was  elected  superintendent  for  the  states  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania.  In  1886  Dr.  Duncan  was  made  field  secretary, 
but  still  retained  special  responsibility  for  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

He  was  untiring  in  effort  in  his  own  large  district,  and  wider 
field,  until  he  retired,  after  twenty-two  years  of  devoted  ser- 
vice. During  this  period  he  developed  the  Home  Department, 
and  with  the  avenues  open  to  him  in  connection  with  the 
Sunday-School  Society  and  the  International  Sunday-School 
Association,  made  it  a  power  for  good  throughout  the  entire 
nation  and  the  world. 

In  1911  Rev.  Milton  S.  Littlefield,  a  Sunday-school  special- 
ist of  wide  reputation,  was  appointed  district  secretary,  with 
headquarters  at  New  York. 

Pennsylvania,  with  its  mining  and  industrial  interests,  has 
had  and  will  continue  to  have  a  vast,  changing  foreign  popula- 
tion with  rapidly  growing  cities,  as  well  as  rural  districts,  which 
will  always  furnish  an  inviting  field  for  Sunday-school  plant- 
ing and  fostering.  The  situation  is  somewhat  different  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  New  Jersey, 
where  the  Congregational  churches  are  few,  but  for  the 
most  part  are  urban  and  vigorous.  Secretary  Littlefield 
and  representatives  of  the  national  society  were  in  demand 
for  assistance  in  improving  and  strengthening  the  Sunday- 
schools. 

On  the  appointment  of  Rev.  Charles  L.  Fisk  for  the  Ohio 
District  in  1911,  western  Pennsylvania,  for  convenience,  was 


128  The  Sunday-School  Century 

placed  under  his  care,  while  the  remaining  part  of  the  state 
continued  with  the  New  York  District. 

The  entire  district  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Littlefield  has  about 
five  hundred  Sunday-schools.  Important  Sunday-school  in- 
stitutes are  held  with  many  of  the  strongest  churches  as  well 
as  with  the  smaller  schools.  Dr.  Littlefield  is  called  upon  for 
leadership  in  summer  schools  in  his  own  and  other  districts, 
as  well  as  in  the  regular  sessions  of  the  churches. 


Alaska 

With  the  opening  of  Alaska,  the  Sunday-School  Society 
took  its  part  by  grants  of  literature  and  other  assistance, 
through  Superintendent  Greene  and  workers  in  Washington 
Territory.  In  1898  Rev.  Loyal  L.  Wirt,  superintendent  for 
northern  California,  was  transferred  to  Alaska  as  joint  superin- 
tendent for  the  Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Socie- 
ties. He  found  large  numbers  of  young  men  homeless,  and  in 
need  of  the  influences  which  would  save  them  from  the  tempta- 
tions incident  to  a  newly  settled  country,  and  the  vices  so 
prominent  in  mining  communities.  Mr.  Wirt  aroused  wide 
interest  in  providing  institutions  to  meet  the  special  needs. 
At  Douglas,  where  there  was  no  other  Protestant  work,  a 
library  and  reading  room  were  established,  which  reached 
large  numbers  of  men  connected  with  the  Treadwell  Stamp 
Mills.  At  Nome  a  reading  room  and  hospital  were  erected, 
and  the  Sunday-school  there  was  the  only  one  in  the  place 
during  the  first  long  winter.  The  Christian  Endeavor  Socie- 
ties of  the  denomination  were  asked  to  sustain  the  Alaska 
mission,  and  in  very  large  measure  provided  the  funds  for 
getting  the  work  under  way.  After  two  years  of  romantic 
service,  in  which  much  was  accomplished,  Dr.  Wirt  resigned. 
The  society  continued  its  assistance  with  Rev.  Wilham  Davies 
in  charge  at  Nome,  and  Rev.  J.  Hammond  Cole  at  Douglas. 


State  Development  129 

Good  beginnings  were  made  in  the  years  when   help  was 
greatly  needed. 

Hawaii 

Aid  was  given  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands  by  grants  of  litera- 
ture through  the  missionaries  of  the  American  Board  when  it 
was  clearly  a  foreign  field,  and  the  society  has  continued  its 
assistance.  The  schools  requiring  aid  have  been  almost 
wholly  Japanese,  Chinese,  or  native  Hawaiian.  Americans 
and  the  people  of  different  races  are  anxious  for  the  best 
things  in  Sunday-school  work.  Invitations  have  been  given 
for  representatives  of  the  society  to  visit  the  Islands  in  the 
interest  of  improved  Sunday-school  work. 

Porto  Rico 

The  work  in  Porto  Rico  is  largely  cared  for  by  the  American 
Missionary  Association.  The  Sunday-School  Society,  how- 
ever, has  given  grants  of  literature  and  cooperation  through 
the  pastors  and  teachers  of  the  Association  for  enlarging  and 
improving  the  work. 

Canada 

As  early  as  1851  cooperation  was  extended  to  Canada,  where 
the  Sunday-school  work  was  in  a  primitive  condition.  As 
the  country  and  its  churches  developed,  the  need  for  assistance 
from  the  United  States  diminished,  and  financial  aid  to  Canada 
was  discontinued;  but  hearty  cooperation  and  fellowship 
remained.  The  literature  of  the  society  has  found  a  place  in 
the  Canadian  churches,  and  in  times  of  special  need,  grants 
have  been  provided  in  different  provinces  of  the  Dominion. 

At  the  time  of  the  most  rapid  settlement  of  the  new  Cana- 
dian Northwest,  the  Sunday-School  Society,  through  Sec. 
F.  K.  Sanders,  was  asked  for  the  services  of  a  worker  to  ex- 
plore and  report  to  the  Congregational  Canadian  Missionary 


130  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Society  and  the  Colonial  Missionary  Society  of  England. 
Sec.  William  Ewing,  who  was  then  superintendent  for  Michi- 
gan, rendered  this  service  in  1906,  enhsting  helpful  cooperation 
between  the  Canadian  brethren  and  the  workers  of  the  Con- 
gregational Sunday-School  and  Home  Missionary  Societies  in 
the  United  States,  as  well  as  outhning  plans  of  operation  for 
the  British  societies. 


Chapter  XIII 

ACHIEVEMENTS  AND  OUTLOOK 

It  is  only  one  hundred  years  since  Congregational  churches 
in  this  country  made  use,  to  any  extent,  of  Sunday-school 
organizations.  During  the  century,  Sunday-school  methods 
have  changed  the  order  of  church  services,  have  modified 
almost  every  phase  of  church  activity,  and  revolutionized 
church  architecture.  The  full  story  of  the  Congregational 
Sunday-school  century  would  reveal  in  a  remarkable  way  the 
genius  of  our  churches,  whose  aim  has  been  to  advance  the 
Kingdom  rather  than  to  build  up  a  denomination.  Con- 
gregationahsts,  as  individuals  and  churches,  were  ready  for 
any  union  movements  which  gave  promise  of  help  to  those  in 
need.  They  generously  supported  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union;  were  wilHng  to  unite  with  Methodists,  Episco- 
pahans  and  Baptists  for  bringing  the  churches  into  more 
helpful  relation  to  the  Sunday-school  work.  When  others 
withdrew,  beheving  that  more  could  be  accomplished  by 
denominations  working  separately,  the  Congregationalists 
still  cooperated  as  far  as  possible,  and  only  when  it  was  clear 
that  greater  results  could  be  achieved  by  separate  effort,  did 
they  organize  independently.  For  a  long  time  the  society, 
supported  largely  by  Congregational  churches,  aided  without 
distinction  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  schools.  They 
had  a  worthy  part  in  forming  state,  national  and  international 
Sunday-school  organizations,  and  later,  the  Religious  Educa- 
tion Association  and  the  Sunday-School  Council  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Denominations  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  which, 
working  with  and  through  the  International  Sunday  School 
Association,  practically  united  all  the  forces  of  religious  educa- 
tion in  the  two  great  nations.    Congregationahsts  work  happily 

131 


132  The  Sunday-School  Century 

in  far-reaching  movements,  and  have  an  honored  place  in  the 
Sunday-school  councils  of  the  world. 

Their  union  efforts  were  not  in  vain  and  did  much  to  lift 
the  Sunday-school  above  narrow  sectarian  influences,  and 
their  Hterature  found  circulation  among  all  denominations. 
Their  desire  for  union  caused  them  to  hesitate  in  sending 
out  field  workers.  When  it  became  clear  that  a  field  force 
was  necessary  it  was  efficiently  organized,  and  Presbyterians, 
Methodists  and  representatives  of  other  denominations  fre- 
quently commended  the  Congregational  organization  as  a 
model  for  imitation.  The  field  force  from  the  beginning  was 
given  responsibility  in  regard  to  educational  improvement  as 
well  as  Sunday-school  extension.  When  scientific  methods 
were  introduced  the  field  workers  did  much  to  improve  the 
schools  by  making  popular  the  best  instruction  in  psychology 
and  pedagogy.  This  brought  great  changes  which  have  been 
worked  out  by  those  in  actual  touch  with  the  vital  spiritual 
needs  of  the  young  people.  The  early  records  laid  emphasis 
upon  the  number  of  teachers* or  scholars  who  were  "  con- 
verted "  or  became  "  hopefully  pious."  A  peculiar  form  of 
religious  experience  was  often  emphasized,  and  those  who  did 
not  attain  it  feared  to  claim  their  Christian  privileges.  The 
wider  vision  resulting  from  right  intellectual  and  spiritual 
experience  brought  more  healthful  standards,  although  these 
have  not  been  lowered.  The  workers  of  the  Sunday-School 
Society  emphasize  education,  not  as  opposed  to  but  a  part  of 
real  evangelism.  It  is  estimated  that  at  least  eighty-five 
per  cent,  of  the  accessions  to  Congregational  churches  are 
through  their  Sunday-schools. 

Opportunities 

The  frontier  experiences  of  the  noble  army  of  men  and 
women  commissioned  by  the  Sunday-School  Society  in  such 
states  as  Colorado,  the  Dakotas,  Wyoming,  Montana  and 


Achievements  and  Outlook  133 

other  new  states  would  furnish  fascinating  volumes.  Great 
results  have  come  from  their  efforts.  The  real  frontier  has 
changed,  but  greatly  widened,  and  is  now  found  not  only  in  the 
new  states  but  in  the  old.  It  is  in  New  England,  the  Central 
States,  the  Southland  and  in  the  great  cities  as  well  as  in  the 
mountain  states,  the  Pacific  coast,  Hawaii,  Alaska  and  our 
insular  possessions.  The  frontier  is  wherever  there  are 
primitive  conditions  or  spiritual  needs.  The  multitudes  who 
have  come,  and  the  greater  numbers  who  are  to  come  from 
many  lands,  make  an  appealing  call  for  missionary  zeal,  the 
very  best  Hterature  and  the  very  best  methods  of  religious 
education. 

The  Congregational  churches  have  had  a  splendid  field 
force  who  have  carried  with  them  the  high  ideals  of  religious 
education.  The  work  which  they  have  done  is  fittingly  de- 
scribed by  Dr.  F.  W.  Gunsaulus  as  "  giving  the  best  educational 
ideals  impelled  by  the  great  missionary  motives."  In 
this  way  they  have  ministered  to  thousands  of  communities 
in  all  parts  of  our  land  in  the  plastic  period  of  their  develop- 
ment, and  to  hundreds  of  thousands  in  the  impressionable 
period  of  their  lives. 

Adjustments  and  Laeger  Things 

The  background  of  nearly  a  hundred  years  of  effort  and 
achievement  led  the  denomination  to  seek  earnestly  for  larger 
things  in  connection  with  religious  education  as  in  other 
departments  of  service  undertaken  by  the  societies. 

The  adjustment  of  the  Sunday-School  Society  was  con- 
sidered in  connection  with  the  report  of  a  special  Commission 
at  the  National  Council  at  Kansas  City  and  referred  to  the 
Commission  on  Missions,  which  Commission  reported  to  the 
National  Council  at  New  Haven  in  1915.  The  report  recom- 
mended that  the  transfer  of  the  Sunday-school  extension 
work  of  the  Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society  to  the 


134  The  Sunday-School  Century 

Church  Extension  Boards  be  referred  to  the  Directors  of  the 
Rehgious  Education  Boards  in  conference  with  the  Directors 
of  the  Church  Extension  Boards  and  the  Commission  on 
Missions,  these  directors  being  under  instructions  to  arrange 
the  transfer  if  the  way  be  open. 

Report  of  progress  and  further  action  was  taken  by  the  Na- 
tional Council  at  Columbus  in  1917.  By  this  action  the  re- 
sponsibility for  planting  new  Sunday-schools  was  transferred 
to  the  Church  Extension  Boards,  while  the  educational  pro- 
gram of  the  Sunday-schools  was  retained  by  The  Congrega- 
tional Sunday-School  and  Publishing  Society  from  Boston,  in 
conjunction  with  the  Congregational  Education  Society. 

The  deep  interest  taken  by  the  National  Council  and  its 
different  Commissions  indicate  clearly  the  importance  at- 
tached to  the  Sunday-school  as  an  extension  agency  and  as 
an  instrumentaUty  for  developing  intelhgent  Christian  life 
and  service  through  all  the  churches.  The  denomination 
has  set  itself  for  larger  things  in  Sunday-school  extension  and 
rehgious  education.  The  achievements  of  a  hundred  years 
give  assurance  for  greater  things  in  the  coming  days  and 
vindicate  the  wisdom  of  the  loyal  support  of  the  entire  de- 
nomination. 


APPENDIX 


136 


The  Sunday-School  Century 


APPENDIX  A 

Financial  Statement  from  1882-1916 


Number 

Number  of 

Years  of  Service 

s.s. 

S.S. 

of  Grants 

States 

Workers 

yrs. 

mos. 

Organized 

Aided 

of  Litera- 
ture 

Alabama 

5 

26 

1 

254 

616 

1,003 

Alaska 

3 

3 

6 

6 

39 

79 

Arizona 

8 

31 

64 

144 

281 

Arkansas 

1 

14 

18 

52 

102 

California  (No.) 

15 

48 

1 

617 

1.219 

2,231 

California  (So.) 

2 

28 

468 

1,495 

3.347 

Colorado 

13 

37 

1 

512 

912 

1,484 

Connecticut 

1 

4 

6 

48 

77 

District  of  Columbia 

1 

4 

2 

22 

39 

Florida 

5 

18 

3 

116 

242 

392 

Georgia 

3 

26 

7 

302 

645 

1,072 

Idaho 

11 

28 

10 

302 

648 

1,338 

Illinois 

16 

61 

1 

360 

1,018 

2,389 

Indiana 

5 

25 

76 

231 

506 

Iowa 

6 

31 

10 

323 

687 

1,401 

Kansas 

4 

29 

377 

668 

1,275 

Kentucky 

4 

19 

9 

67 

138 

300 

Louisiana 

9 

25 

5 

114 

236 

403 

Maine 

5 

22 

2 

83 

287 

421 

Maryland 

1 

4 

2 

14 

32 

Massachusetts 

6 

23 

4 

66 

628 

1,513 

Michigan 

9 

46 

2 

397 

1,343 

3,014 

Minnesota 

17 

78 

8 

814 

1,465 

2,695 

Mississippi 

2 

8 

17 

22 

Missouri 

4 

29 

195 

558 

1.400 

Montana 

9 

43 

8 

337 

422 

664 

Nebraska 

16 

75 

7 

639 

1,593 

3.198 

Nevada 

3 

29 

15 

21 

42 

New  Hampshire 

4 

20 

27 

78 

126 

New  Jersey 

1 

4 

1 

26 

40 

New  Mexico 

3 

5 

38 

100 

194 

New  York 

2 

6 

41 

248 

492 

North  Carolina 

3 

20 

6 

80 

914 

2,622 

North  Dakota 

21 

56 

8 

715 

1,127 

2,041 

Ohio 

10 

27 

8 

145 

391 

1.033 

Oklahoma 

8 

43 

10 

382 

1,153 

2,369 

Oregon 

22 

63 

4 

740 

1,895 

4,536 

Pennsylvania 

3 

30 

18 

143 

272 

Rhode  Island 

1 

12 

3 

32 

67 

South  Carolina 

3 

20 

6 

19 

114 

266 

South  Dakota 

28 

165 

1 

694 

945 

1,600 

Tennessee 

5 

13 

10 

154 

275 

534 

Texas 

25 

49 

9 

268 

463 

780 

Utah 

3 

9 

12 

214 

534 

Vermont 

4 

22 

49 

143 

263 

Virginia 

1 

4 

5 

40 

71 

Washington 

19 

89 

10 

920 

2,978 

8,355 

West  Virginia 

1 

4 

1 

5 

6 

Wisconsin 

10 

54 

1 

504 

1,140 

2,498 

Wyoming 

8 

33 

5 

161 

245 

420 

Foreign  Lands 

2 

774 

1,490 

369 


1,565 


11,511 


28,851 


61,329 


Appendix 


137 


APPENDIX  A 

Financial  Statement  from  1882-1916 


Value 

of  Grants 

Cost  of 

of  Literature 

Service 

Total 

Receipts 

Legaciet 

$1,713.22 

$8,937.68 

$10,650.80 

$2,276.20 

326.56 

5,448.51 

5,775.07 

307.96 

391.45 

5,869.21 

6,260.66 

1,127.74 

334.40 

1,779.69 

2.114.09 

400.50 

5,917.69 

67,831.22 

73.748.91 

29,796.41 

$225.00 

6,380.05 

48,858.00 

55,238.05 

23,440.95 

2,990.04 

50,527.70 

53,517.74 

15,956.10 

203.24 

7.081.77 

7,285.01 

188,862.37 

17,281.14 

128.17 

314.48 

442.65 

6,338.13 

799.51 

9,259.86 

10,059.37 

3,159.05 

1,737.05 

15,538.91 

17,275.96 

2.583.73 

2,715.21 

34,022.69 

36,737.90 

2,994.72 

50.00 

11,572.56 

94,837.89 

106,410.45 

42,401.01 

1,255.55 

1,965.28 

9,803.71 

11,768.99 

4,839.50 

4,530.66 

46,844.52 

51,375.18 

59.327.31 

4,517.46 

44,226.99 

48,744.45 

19.486.99 

641.90 

3,573.82 

4,215.72 

639.89 

881.58 

9,611.65 

10,493.23 

1,589.77 

1,174.43 

11,063.55 

12,237.98 

22,565.09 

1,344.00 

79.64 

104.84 

184.48 

1,218.42 

20,097.50 

6,429.97 

13,963.35 

20,393.32 

448,462.39 

57,838.37 

6,866.89 

58,916.65 

65,783.54 

83,309.48 

7,038.86 

97.771.51 

104,810.37 

44,453.20 

39.31 

1,759.51 

1,798.82 

65.11 

6,710.49 

43,931.36 

50,641.85 

26,898.84 

200.00 

1,675.85 

47,299.91 

48,975.76 

5,176.15 

6,946.23 

63,366.84 

70,313.07 

38,074.99 

40.27 

524.16 

564.43 

221.47 

234.69 

6,969.26 

7,203.95 

42,885.63 

12,658.77 

136.31 

1,308.07 

1,444.38 

15,524.00 

100.00 

488.61 

2.017.48 

2,506.09 

562.56 

1,805.73 

9,523.19 

11,328.92 

87,310.36 

6.929.21 

2,438.97 

3,365.22 

5,804.19 

1,718.80 

4,239.90 

65,333.05 

69,572.95 

17,629.89 

6,808.56 

46,343.04 

53,151.60 

81,467.32 

6.103.23 

4,168.76 

35,205.84 

39,374.60 

6,098.74 

9,437.42 

69,125.29 

78,562.71 

12,235.85 

25.23 

947.31 

1,966.15 

2,913.46 

11.431.52 

215.71 

884.75 

1,100.46 

18,097.68 

350.63 

445.40 

796.03 

138.82 

3,928.54 

74,902.08 

78,830.62 

20,618.16 

1,777.89 

8,332.65 

10,110.54 

1,236.90 

1,624.13 

33,006.95 

34,631.08 

3,347.57 

2,278.55 

5,447.16 

7,725.71 

1,197.66 

509.66 

9,454.51 

9,964.17 

44,755.28 

135.60 

104.84 

240.44 

404.73 

22,458.68 

116,883.34 

139,342.02 

30,936.76 

18.83 

206.82 

225.65 

510.70 

5,504.39 

50,740.67 

56,245.06 

66,843.43 

3,692.50 

914.42 

37,304.05 

38,218.47 

3,546.04 

4,207.36 

4,207.36 
$1,541,318.31 

193.25 

$159,378.62 

$1,381,939.69 

$1,544,665.12 

$127,800.50 

138 


The  Sunday-School  Century 


APPENDIX  B 

Persons  connected  with  the  work  of  the  Society 


Abbott,  Rev.  Lyman,  41. 

Adams,  W.  H.  M.,  102. 

Albro,  Rev.  J.  A.,  57,  68. 

Alden.  Rev.  E.  J.,  47,  55. 

Allen,  W.  B  ,  58. 

Andrus,  Dea.  G.  R.,  109,  113. 

Arakelyan,  J.  J.,  56,  71. 

Arnot,  Rev.  J.  K.,  108. 

Atkinson,  Rev.  G.  H.,  44,  113,  115. 

Babcook,  Rev.  J.  M.,  106. 

Bagnall,  Rev.  Fred,  97. 

BaUey,  Rev.  A.  W.,  87,  88. 

Barber,  Rev.  L.  N.,  116. 

Barney,  Rev.  J.  O.,  27. 

Barrie,  Rev.  N.  C,  102. 

Barrows,  Rev.  William,  39. 

Barrows,  Mrs.  William,  59. 

Beaman,  C.  C,  20. 

Beane,  Rev.  P.  A.,  27. 

Beane,  Rev.  Samuel,  27. 

Beard,  Rev.  A.  F.,  42. 

Beard,  Rev.  Clarence,  121. 

Beard,  Miss  Frederica,  65. 

Beecher,  Rev.  Lyman,  4,  13,  23,  26. 

Beitel,  Rev.  J.  H.,  98. 

Bell,  Rev.  W  S.,  101,  107. 

Benedict,  Rev.  A.  J.,  112. 

Benker,  Miss  L.  M.,  99. 

Benton,  Rev.  J.  A.,  117. 

Berckman,  Rev.  W.  O.,  126. 

Blackburn,  Rev.  J.  F.,  124,  126. 

Blake,  Rev.  Mortimer,  40,  47,  58. 

Bloom,  Rev.  W.  K.,  103. 

Bond,  Rev.  W.  A.,  115. 

Bower,  Rev.  A.  N.,  115. 

Boynton,  Rev.  G.  M.,  48,  50,  69,  84,  98. 

Boynton,  Mrs.  Julia  H.,  58. 

Brand,  C.  A.,  59,  84. 

Brewer,  F.  S.,  102. 

Brooks,  8.  C,  105. 

Brown,  Rev.  D.  M.,  90,  101. 

Brown,  Rev.  L.  E.,  102. 

Brown,  Rev.  Richard,  115. 

Brown,  Rev.  S.  P. ,  124. 

Bryant,  Rev.  J.  W.,  115. 

Bryner,  Mrs.  Mary  J.,  90,  93,  94. 

Buell,  Rev.  S.  H.,  99. 

Bullard,  Artemus,  14.  16,  118. 

BuUard,  Rev.  Asa,  5,  19,  29,  39,  48,  66, 

73,  83,  86.   1 14. 
Buroh,  Rev.  H.  H.,  95. 
Burgess,  Rev.  H.  F.,  114,  115. 
Burlingame,  Rev.  Martin,  115. 
Burnell,  K.  A.,  27. 
Burr,  Rev.  Huber,  118. 
Bush,  Rev.  A.  S.,  100,  105,  106,  111. 
Bushnell,  Rev.  C.  W.,  109,  114. 
Butler,  lev.  E.  W.,  125,  126. 


Calhoun,  Rev.  J.  C,  121,  123. 

Cary,  L.   H.,  55. 

Case.  Rev.  H.  P.,  80,  85,  105,    106,  111, 

116,  117. 
Chatfield,  Rev.  G.  W.,  112,  122. 
Cherington,  Rev.  R.  B.,  117. 
Chicago  Directors,  68,  69. 
Clark,  Rev.  Allen,  103. 
Clark,  Rev.  J.  H.,  104. 
Clark,  Rev.  K.  K.,  122. 
Clarke,  Rev.  A.  T.,  124,  125. 
Cleveland,  Rev.  H.  C,  115. 
Cole.  Rev.  J.  H.,  128. 
Collier,  T.  J.,  93. 
Collins,  Rev.  C.  C,  125. 
Colman,  Rev.  Eben,  27. 
Colvin,  John,  101. 
Conard,  Rev.  W.  J.,  104. 
Congregationaliat  Editors   and   Publishers, 

61,  64. 
Cook,  Joseph,  41. 
Cook,  Rev.  S.  P.,  84. 
Cooke,  Rev.   W.  H.,  117. 
Cotton,  H.  A.,  90. 
Crafts,  Mrs.  W.  F.,  59. 
Crater,  G.  W.,   101. 
Creegan,  Rev.  C.  C,  41. 
Cronin,  Rev.  H.  C,  119. 
Curtis,  Rev.  A.  W.,   125. 
Curtis,  Rev.  C.  H.,  115. 
Cutter,  Rev.  M.  M.,  55. 

Dahlberg,  Rev.  Fred,  92,  97,  122. 

Dahlgren,  Rev.  J.  A.,  103. 

Daley,  Rev.  C.  M.,  101,  107,  108. 

Danielson,  Miss  F.  W.,  65,  85. 

Davies,  Rev.  William,  128. 

Davis,  Rev.  D.  W.,  101. 

Davis,  Rev.  F.  H.,  105. 

Davis,  Rev.  M.  C,  115. 

Dawson,  Rev.  W.  L.,  114. 

Day,  Rev.  R.  C,  117. 

Dazey,  Rev.  J.  C,  121. 

Dean,  C.  C,  18,  54,  69,  83. 

DeBevoise,  Rev.  G.  H.,  83. 

Deck,  Rev.  H.  A.,  113. 

Dick,  Rev.  J.  M.,  114,  116. 

Dickey,  Rev.  J.  G.,  103. 

Dierlamm,  C.  R.,  103. 

Dietrich,  Rev.  Emil,  101. 

DiU,  M.  T.,  71. 

Dole,  Rev.  C.  J.,   93. 

Duncan.  W.  A.,  41,  47,  78,  127. 

Dunning,  Rev.  A.  E..  42,  46,  48,  58,    59, 

62,  82,  84,  90,  96,  127. 

Ebersol,  Rev.  C.  E.,  103. 
Eckhardt,  Rev.  J.  G.,  118. 
Edwards,  Rev.  G.  N.,  108. 


Appendix 


139 


Elliott,  Rev.  W.  A.,  90,  97. 
Ellis,  Rev.  G.  A.,  105. 
Elmquist,  Elmer,   112. 
Estabrook,  Rev.  F.  J.,  106. 
Evans,  Rev.  J.  E.,  101. 
Ewing,    Rev.    William,    51,    84,    97,    102, 
107,  130. 

Fairbanks,  Rev.  C.  G.,  102. 

Fairbanks,  John,  55. 

Fairchild,  Pres.  J.  H.,  41. 

Farrar,   John,  125. 

Fisher,  Rev.  M.  B.,  116.  117. 

Fisk,  Rev.  C.  L.,  94,   126,  127. 

Fisk,  Rev.  F.  L.,  90. 

Fitch,  Rev     C.  N.,   105,  106. 

Foote,  J.  D.,  27. 

Ford,  E.  C,   107. 

Foss,  Rev.  Christian,  103. 

Foster,  Rev.   J.  W.,  120. 

Fowler,  Rev.  O.  L.,   114. 

Frazer,  Rev.  C.  W.,  124. 

Gadsby,  Rev.    George,  93. 

Gait,  Rev.  T.  F.,  101. 

Gammon,  Rev.  R.  W.,  64,  91,  95. 

Gazarian,  Rev.  G.,   118. 

Gimblett,  W.  H.,  102. 

Gonzales,  Rev.  J.  B.,  121,  123. 

GoodeU,  Rev.  C.  L.,  42. 

Gordon,  C.  H.,   102. 

Graham,  Rev.  J.  M.,  125,  126. 

Grant,  Miss  Zillah,  84. 

Grauer,  Rev.  O.  C.,  92. 

Gray,  Rev.  Annette  B.,  107. 

Gray,  B.  P.,  101. 

Gray,  Rev.  W.  B.  D.,   100,  106. 

Green,  Rev.  G.  E.,  101. 

Greene,  Rev.  Samuel,  109,  110,  113. 

Grey,  Rev.  Fred,  100. 

Gunderson,  A.  E.,  98. 

Hacke,  Rev.  A.  C,  96. 
Haecker,  Rev.  M.  €.,  101. 
Haight,  Rev.  J.  T.,  98. 
Hale,  M.  L.,  68. 
HaU,  Rev.  F.  L.,  85,  99. 
Hall,  Rev.  James,  26,  27. 
Hall,  Rev.  William,  27. 
Hamilton,  Rev.  B.  F.,  68. 
Hammond,  Rev.  W.  B.,  27. 
Hardy,  Alpheus,  68. 
Harger,  Rev.  C.  H.,  98. 
Harper,  Rev.  Joel,  120. 
Hart,  Rev.   F.  W.,  101. 
Haun,  Rev.  G.  C,  92. 
Haus,  Rev.  Kate  H.,  105. 
Hayes,  Rev.  James,  90. 
Hazard,  M.  C.,  47,  58,  60,  84,  90. 
Heald,  Rev.  J.  H.,  112. 
Hefner,  Rev.  H.  J.,  121. 
Hensel,  Rev.  W.  A.,   122. 
Herrick,  L.  E.,  95,  101. 
Herrick,  Rev.  R.  P.,  101,  103. 
Herrick,  Rev.  S.  C.,  68. 
Hcrshner,  Rev.  J.  L.,   114,  115. 
HUl,  Rev.  E.  L.,  90. 
Hitchcock,  A.  W.,  105. 
Holden,  Rev.  R.  B.,  101. 
Howard,  Rev.  T.  W.,  103. 


Hughes,  J.  B.,  115. 
Hughes,  Rev.  J.  E.,  101. 
Huntington,  Rev.  J.  C.,  103,  121,    123. 
Hurlbut,  Rev.  W.  H.,  112,  120,  122. 
Hurlbut,  Mrs.  W.  H.,  122. 

Ingham,  Rev.  J.  E.,  100. 
Isely,  Miss  M.  A.,  106,   111. 

Jackson,  H.  D.,  98. 
Johnson,  Rev.  A.  R.,  109. 
Johnson,  Rev.  H.  O.,   108. 
Jones,  Miss  H.  M.,  93. 

Kautsky,  Miss  E.  A.,  119. 
Kellner,  Rev.  C.  J.,  122. 
Keranen,  Miss  Anna,  80,  87. 
Keyes,  G.  W.,  96. 
Kilbon,  Rev.  J.  L.,  59. 
Kimball,  Charles,  68. 
Kindred,  Rev.  George,  109. 
King,  Milton,   102. 
King,  Rev.  W.  D.,  98. 
Kirchner,  A.  F.  C,  121,  123. 
Knodell,  Rev.  J.  R.,  95. 
Kuhl,  Rev.  E.  H.,  121. 

Lambert,  Rev.  H.  W.,  119. 
Lane,  Capt.  G.  W.,  86,  125. 
Lathrop,  T.  B.,   101. 
Lawless,  A..  123. 
Lee,  Rev.  G.  H.,  114, 
Lee,  Rev.  H.  A.,  110. 
Leeman,  Rev.  Wilhelm,  80,  87. 
Lewis,  Miss  Anna  N.,  111. 
Lewis,  Rev.  F.  F..  88,  106. 
Littlefield,    Rev.  M.  S.,  127. 
Louch,  Rev.  William,    118. 
Lyman,  Rev.  A.  T.,  106. 
Lyman,  Rev.  Harvey,    101. 
Lyons,  Rev.  E.  C,  103. 

Maile,  Rev.  J.  L.,  41,  98,  104,  119. 
Marsh,  Rev.  Christopher,  18,  83. 
Marah,  Rev.  F.  J.,  83,  85,  87. 
Martin,  C.  B.,  123. 
Martin,  Rev.  Joel,  97. 
Matthews,  Rev.  J.  H.,  110,  114,  116. 
McCoy,  Rev.  C.  C,  123. 
McCready,  Rev.  William,  101,  106. 
McDermott,  Miss  S.  A.,  91,  95. 
McMiUen,  Rev.  W.  F.,    90,    91,    93,    94, 

126. 
Means,  Rev.  J.  O.,  40. 
Meredith,  Rev.  R.  R.,  68. 
Merrill,  Rev.  G.  P.,   114. 
MiUer,  Rev.  A.  C,  101. 
Miller,  Rev.  E.  W.,  96. 
Miller,  Rev.  I.  C,  102. 
Munson,  Rev.  M.  C,   115. 
Murphy,  Rev.  C.  G.,  98,   112,   120,  122, 

123. 

Nelson,  W.  G.,  114. 
Newcomb,  Rev.  G.  W.,  27,  96. 

Newcomb,  Rev.  O.  R.,  94. 
Newlands,  R.  W.,   117. 
Newton,  W.  R.,   121. 
Nichols,  Rev.  D.  B.,  26. 
Nicholls,  Rev.  R.  D.,   109. 


140 


The  Sunday-School  Century 


Nichols,  Miss  Martha,  84. 
Noble,  Rev.   Mason,   124. 
Noyce,  Rev.  J.  C,  98. 

O'Brien,  Rev.  J.  P.,    119,  126. 
Okerstein,  Rev.  J.  F.,  80,   103. 
Osgood,  H.  M.,  101. 
Owens,  Rev.  Edmund,   112. 

Parker,  Rev.  L.  J.,  120,  122, 
Parks,  Rev.  A.  S.,   104. 
Parmelee,  A.  H.,  93. 
Patterson,  Howard,   117. 
Pearson,  Rev.  L.  O.,  98. 
Pederson,  Rev.  L.  J.,  102,  103. 
Pendleton,    Rev.  J.  N.,   109,   114. 
Percival,  Rev.  J.  T.,  109,  114. 
Perry,  Rev.  P.  L.,  112. 
PhUlips,  E.   H.,  123. 
Pinney,  I.  E.,  102. 
Plass,  Rev.  Norman,  93. 
Piatt,  Rev.  J.  E.,  99,   120. 
Poeton,  Rev.  Josiah,  87. 
Pope,  Rev.  Joseph,   108. 
Powell,  Rev.  G.  J.,  108. 
Presidents    of    the    Society    in    order    of 
service : 

Hon.  William  Reed,  13,  17,  20,  66. 

Alfred  D.  Foster,  Esq.,  20,  66. 

Hon.  Samuel  T.  Armstrong,  20,  26,  66. 

Hon.  Samuel  H.  Wallev,   26,  35,  66. 

Hon.  Charles  T.  Russell,  23,  35,  66. 

J.  Russell  Bradford,  67. 

Ezra  Farnsworth,  67. 

Samuel  Johnson,  67. 

Samuel   B.   Capen.   LL.D.,  42,   47,   67, 
71,  79. 

Rev.  WUlard  Scott,  D.D.,  67. 

Pres.  Henry  C.  Kmg,  LL.D.,  67. 

Rev.  F.  H.  Page,  67. 

Rev.  Clarence  F.  Swift,  D.D.,  68. 
Putnam,  Rev.  L.  P.,  101,  107. 

Quint,  Rev.  Alonzo,  68. 

Ranney,  H.  E.,  71. 
Reade,  Rev.  O.  E.,  106. 
Reese,  Rev.  J.  B.,  101. 
Reitzel,  Rev.  J.  R.,  91. 
Rice,  Rev.  C.  B.,  .58. 
Roberts,  Rev.  E.  P.,  115. 
Robinson,  Rev.  O.  L.,  92. 
Rockwood,  Rev.  G.  A.,   115. 
Rogers,  Rev.  C.  T.,  125. 
Rogers,  Rev.  W.  O.,   120,   122. 
Rood,  Rev.  J.  S.,   103. 
Rose,  Rev.  W.  F.,  115. 
Roth,  V.  W.,  107. 
Rowley,  Rev.  R.  A.,  114,  115. 
Russell,  Rev.  Alec,  101. 
Russell,  Rev.  Frank,  41. 

Sage,  Rev.  C.  J.,  103. 

Sahlstrom,  Rev.  L.  A.,  80,   102. 

St.  John,  Prof.  E.  P.,  65. 

Samson,  Ashley,  22. 

Sanders,  Rev.  F.  K.,  50,  84,  129. 

Sargent.  M.  H.,  54,  69. 

Sass,  Rev.  F.  W.,  98. 


Sattler,  Rev.  John,   101. 

Saunders,  Rev.   E.  E.,   102. 

Saunders,  Rev.  H.  L.,    121. 

Schwabenland,  Rev.  J.  C,  80. 

Scott,  Miss  Grace,   117. 

Scudder,  Charles,  68. 

Seccombe,  Rev.  S.  H.,  120,   121. 

Sell,  Rev.  Herman,  80. 

Sell,  Rev.  H.  T.,  90,  92. 

Seward,  Rev.  A.  L.,  112. 

Shaw,  Rev.  E.  S.,  98,  102,  108. 

Shaw,  Rev.  William,  124. 

Singer,  Rev.  E.  J.,  109,  114,  117,  118. 

Slattery,  Miss  Margaret,  65,  84. 

Smith,  Rev.  A.  J.,   121. 

Smith,  Rev.  E.  E.,  103,  108. 

Smith,  Rev.  G.  A.,   121. 

Smith,  G.  P.,  54,    55. 

Smith,  Rev.  H.  N.,  115. 

Smith,  Rev.  O.  0.,  95. 

Smith,  Rev.  William,  115. 

Snider,  A.  B,    115. 

Soderquist,  Rev.  Carl,  80,   103. 

Southgate,  Rev.  B.  M.,  90,  94,  126. 

Soza,  Juan,  112. 

Spire,  Rev.  W.  J.,  108. 

Stanley,  Miss  Grace  E.,  84. 

Stewart,  Rev.  J.  D.,  41,  98. 

Stewart,  Rev.  W.  R.,  85,  88. 

Stickney,  Rev.  E.  H.,  102,  107. 

Stillman,  Rev.    O.  A.,  115. 

Stockwell,  Rev.  C.  K.,  108. 

Stone,  Rev.  S.,  103. 

Storm,  Rev.  J.  E.,  98. 

Storrs,  Rev.  R.  S.,  42,  61,  74. 

Sullens,  Rev.  A.  J.,  90,  94,  110. 

Sumner,  Rev.  M.  N.,  125. 

Sutherland,  Rev.  W.  L.,  2,  100,  103,  119. 

Tewksbury,  J.  H.,  47,  55,  63,  69. 
Thompson,  C.  D.,  98. 
Thomsen,  Rev.  Ludwig,  110, 
Towle,  Rev.  C.  A.,  95. 
Trabue,  Miss  A.  L.,  100. 
Tracy,  Rev.  D.  W.,  107. 
Triplett,  Rev.  T.  H.,  121. 
Trower,  W.  G.,  109. 
Truman,  Rev.  Daniel,  98. 
Tuttle,  Rev.  H.  W.,  95. 
Tweedy,  Rev.  Harry,  98. 

Upshaw,  Rev.  William,  115. 

Van  Valkenburgh,  Rev.  H.  C,  101. 
Vavrina,  Rev.  Vaclav,  101. 

Waldron,  Rev.  D.  W.,  38. 
Waldron,  Rev.    G.  B.,  125. 
Walton,  Rev.  Gilbert,   125. 
Wangelin,  F.  G.,  93. 
Wannamaker,  Rev.  H.  S.,  90. 
Ward,  Miss  Lucv  A.,    105. 
Warren,  E.  K.,  71,  96,  122. 
Watson,  Rev.  J.  J.,  90. 
Wattenbarger,  Rev.  O.  T.,   122. 
Weatherby,  Rev.  W.  H..    121. 
WeUman,  Rev.  J.  W.,  32,   68. 
Weston,  S.  A.,  59,  61,  84. 
Wheeler,  W.  E.,  93. 


Appendix 


141 


Whiddon,  Rev.  "W.  Z.,    121,  123. 
Whittemore,  W.  F.,    55,  62. 
Wightman,  Rev.  A.  O.,  27. 
Willan,  Rev.  John,   92. 
Williams,    Rev.  H.  T  ,  90. 
WUliamson,  Rev.  George,   121. 
Winchester,   Rev.  B.  S..    60,  65,  84. 
Wingate,  H.  K.,   103. 
Wirt,  Rev.  L.  L.,    116,   117,  128. 
Wise,  Rev.  W.  C,  114. 


Wismer,  Rev.  E.  L.,  98. 
Wolfe,  Rev.  Joseph,   115. 
Woodruff,  Rev.  G.  C,   105,  106. 
Wygal,  Miss  O.  B.,   119. 

Yarrow,  Miss  Florence,  117. 
Yost,  Rev.  J.  J.,  87. 
Young,  A.  G.,   102. 
Young,  Rev.  H.  W.,   114. 
Young,  Rev.  W.  E.,  114. 


Bate  Di 


Ill  iii'i'liMNi!  f,l|'li'l  11' 


1    10 


111   III 


111  Jlill 


2  01035  3300 


